New York City Students Act on Obama's Words: An Evening of Theater Celebrates That...

New York City Students Act on Obama's Words: An Evening of Theater Celebrates
That 'Dropping Out Is No Longer An Option' in Show UP! 2009

Honoring Council Member Robert Jackson, District 7, Chair, Education Committee

Thursday, May 28, 20096:30 p.m.

Borough of Manhattan Community College's Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Reception to follow

NEW YORK, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Dropping out is no longer an
option," proclaimed President Barack Obama. "It's not just quitting on
yourself, it's quitting on your country."

ENACT Inc., a pioneering non-profit dedicated to teaching New York City public
school students crucial life skills through creative drama and drama therapy
techniques, has taken those words to heart in a year-end presentation, Show
UP! 2009. Founded in 1987, ENACT has served over 100,000 New York City public
school students.

This evening of theater presents a unique window into the very real barriers
and risks students face daily in the NYC public school system. The
performance is crafted from ENACT's workshops with students; students use
their own voices to show families, teachers, principals and each other what
they have learned, and how the ENACT workshops have kept them focused on
success in school and in their communities.

In the past two years, ENACT's dropout prevention programs have served over
850 students in six schools. These programs are funded through the New York
City Council's Dropout Prevention and Intervention Initiative. ENACT's
results include improved attendance, better overall student behavior and
increased social emotional skills. ENACT also works with the United Way of
New York City's Community Achievement Projects in Schools (CAPS), and has
partnerships with schools throughout the New York City Department of
Education.

Show UP! 2009 will honor Council Member Jackson, who represents the 7th
District and serves as Chair of the NYC Council Education Committee. Council
Member Jackson has been instrumental in focusing attention on and funding
dropout prevention programs in NYC public schools.

SOURCE ENACT Inc.

Carolyn Hill of ENACT, +1-212-741-6591 x211, carolyn.hill@enact.org