MIAMI, Florida – The Urban Renewal Greater Enhancement National Team (URGENT Inc.) is set to celebrate 25 years of innovation, growth, and transformation with a Royal Lion King Gala on Saturday, October 26, 2019. The gala will be hosted at the Arts of the Elks, 4949 NW 7th Avenue, Miami Guests are invited to dress in their Lion King’s finest/ African/Evening attire.
The event will feature an exciting array of activities, including an opening reception, red carpet photos, live drumming by Delou Africa, dinner, dancing, a live band. URGENT’s digital Face (Film, Arts, Culture, Coding, Entrepreneurship program) youth media team will premier a docu-drama directed by them.
Strong organizational support
The current programs exist today thanks to year-round support of organizations that have invested in URGENT Inc’s years of service. Those companies include; The Children’s Trust, and the Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, The Miami Foundation, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Knight Foundation and Miami Dade College, as well as with the support of the of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
Goal is to establish URGENT Academy
The Royal Lion King Gala will lay the foundation for a Capital Campaign to raise $25 million for the new URGENT Academy (UA), a Career and Technical and Entrepreneurial Innovation Center. At UA, high school students will work and create together in partnership with industry professionals, mentoring artists, and digital designers to build the skills sought after by today’s creative and technology-driven industries. Also, in the works is the FACE Arts & Production Studio, a creative oasis designed to promote youth arts, technology, and culture.
URGENT, Inc. was established in 1994 by a small group of concerned citizens who wanted to improve the depressed urban economy plaguing Miami. Their vision was to empower young people to transform the community. Twenty-five years on, URGENT continues to work as a catalyst for change in the Miami community by focusing on the youth and community development.
“As Overtown transforms, Urgent Inc’s mission has become even more important because, through our community partnerships, we are empowering Overtown youth to transform their communities,” states Neil Shriver, Executive Director, Southeast Overtown Parkwest Community Redevelopment Agency.
The organization teaches core competencies in a variety of dynamic programs serving youth from ages 5-21. Programs include the FACE Internship, Rites of Passage Media Project, and the Youth Empowerment After School program.
