Leimert Park Welcomes Conscious Arts

Conscious Youth Global Network was created to be the vehicle for youth to access this support and connection. CYGN is a global initiative to empower youth, ages 13-34, to be self-aware and positively engaged in the world through an education in the Conscious Arts.

Conscious arts education is an evolving educational form for youth empowerment that combines the best of mindfulness, personal growth and “consciousness” training, with education in the arts including music, poetry/spoken word, film-making and more. Curriculum in the conscious arts is based on the wisdom that our inner gifts produce the best art and that we must turn within to transform the world. We believe that the highest art is that which is the expression of our unique “voice” – spoken, written, painted or danced.

Conscious Youth Global Network will deliver this conscious arts education through curriculum that distills the best of ancient teachings, spiritual traditions, psychology and youth empowerment with training in the arts. This form of education teaches youth to seek their value within and to express their passion and hopes for the world through constructive action and expression. With these skills, we believe youth will produce artistic expression that will positively shift the arts industry and business worlds to promote artists and their art that are inspirational and uplifting.

Malcolm Concept (L) is a hip-hop artist and one of CYGN's main contributors. Concept has experience training the youth in creative writing and music production. An LA native, Concept believes Leimert Park has the potential to receive attention. "I'm excited with the project and I expect for the streets to be filled with people- mostly youth."

Conscious Youth Global Network goal is to provide a network, training and marketplace to expand self-awareness and conscious expression of youth through the arts. Concept says, "Youth want engaging courses that let them be creative and expressive. They want to learn the technologies to produce music and videos that speak to their passion, as well as their struggles. They want to tell their story."

He believes that the youth deserve a platform. "CYGN was created to support youth, to understand themselves and tell their story through the arts. Our curriculum is designed to empower youth to be conscious and engaged in school and the world," Malcolm says. According to thinkneuroscience, creativity is critical to brain development among teenagers and it enhances the brain's ability for problem solving.

Creative expression is also healing to those who don't have another outlet to express themselves. Concept recalls his past experience with youth by saying, "We hope to inspire youth to want to learn, excel and succeed."

In November, CYGN Los Angeles hosted a showcase at Maverick's Flat, one of the last remaining Jazz Clubs in South Los Angeles. The show brought talent from as far as Montana to as local as Leimert Park. The show encompassed about a dozen acts including spoken word artists, rappers, singers, musicians, actors and artists.

Conscious Youth Global Network and the City of Los Angeles' Department of Cultural Affairs will host the First Annual LA Youth Theatre Festival at Leimert Park Village at the Vision Theatre, 3341 W 43rd Place, Los Angeles.

The four-day festival will include more than 20 performances, Q & A with directors and actors, panel discussions, spoken word performances, singers, a children’s book fair, and arts vendors. Theatre groups from high schools, universities, and production companies all across Southern California will perform and be engaged in the weekend activities. The event will bring together people of all races and ages to this central Los Angeles cultural hub that has a strong theatrical history and an even stronger future in the performing arts. This is the first youth-driven event in an area strong in theater culture.

Leimert Park is a one and a half square mile planned community in the Crenshaw district in South LA. This enclave was developed in the 1920's, and after restrictive covenants were struck down by the Supreme Court, there began a great migration of blacks in the 30's and 40's.

Leimert Park Village is centered between Degnan Boulevard, 43rd Place, and Leimert Boulevard, and rivals the cultural ambiance of Greenwich Village. In fact, it is the last notable African American hub in the western region of the United States.

Leimert Park Village is known as the center for African American art and music. The center has book stores, music venues, art galeries and dance halls, along with quaint coffee shops, clothing stores and juice bars and restaurants.

The Vision Theater was built in 1931 and was developed by Walter H. Leimert. Leimert's goal in developing the center was to bring attention to the area. The theatre initially opened as a movie-house. In 1990, actress Marla Gibbs purchased the theatre and it hosted events and concerts for artists such as Maya Angelou, Stevie Wonder and speaker Louis Farrakhan.

However, by 1997, Gibbs was unable to raise the necessary debt of $250,000, and the venue was forced to shut down. Eventually, the City of Los Angeles purchased and renovated the theatre for $11 million. Currently, the city plans to use the theatre to bring in new businesses and to bring youth art back to South LA.