Arts Program Aims to Link Cultures

KOREATOWN — The Korean Youth Center is recruiting Korean-American youths to participate in a multiethnic theater arts program at Jordan High School in Watts.

“This kind of activity can help to break down the walls of prejudice that exist among all youths today,” said Bong Hwan Kim, executive director of the Korean Youth Center. “The future of the Korean-American community lies in building relations with the diverse communities of Los Angeles.”

Students in the nonprofit Living Literature/Colors United Inc. program receive academic credit while working with professional actors to develop their own performance and production skills. The after-school and weekend sessions offer an alternative to gangs, boredom and ethnic conflict, said Kingston DuCoeur, the program’s executive director.

In addition to academic instruction and support, the program offers counseling, referrals, employment and scholarships.

More than 65 African-American, Latino, Samoan, Anglo and Filipino youths are currently participating in the program, which aims to promote intercultural exchanges and understanding and offers a medium for discussing community issues, DuCoeur said. Recently, two Korean-American students joined Colors United after some friendly persuasion by Kathy Kim of the Korean Youth Center.

“We’re not really training the kids to be performers, we’re helping them gain a new sense of themselves,” said Anne Marie Gillen, Colors United co-chair. “Kids in gangs are given a chance to take their leadership and other positive qualities and invest these in a different way.”

Colors United will perform its production of “Watts Side Story” Thursday at First AME Church and excerpts from the show at the Korean Youth Center’s annual fund-raising dinner Friday at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Information: Colors United, (310) 441-1143; Korean Youth Center, (213) 365-7400.