2004 Program Highlights

Since its inception in 2000, "Stand & Deliver" has now grown to include 17 non-profit organizations, public and private schools and has expanded its curriculum to focus on such areas as job readiness and interview skills. Specifically, the 2004 "Stand & Deliver" program included over 200 young adults who attended weekly workshops as well as large group symposiums which focused on such areas as presentation skills, listening, interviewing for a job, conflict resolution and communicating across cultures. Following are just some of the highlights from our 2004 program.

Symposium I - Communication All-Star

The first symposium entitled "Communication All-Star," which took place on March 22, 2004, gave participants the opportunity to put into action the tools and techniques they have learned from the “Stand & Deliver” program while getting valuable feedback from panelists brought in from various facets of business. Over 60 young adults gave brief, 2-3 minute presentations and were evaluated on the overall effectiveness of their presentations with specific criteria including delivery, stage presence and communication style (both verbal and non-verbal) and the persuasiveness of their message. Sixteen young adults were awarded $250 prizes for their outstanding performances and these young adults went on to perform at the Stand & Deliver "Night of Eloquence" event.

Symposium II - Special Guest Michael Fowlin


Michael Fowlin
“You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me”
The second symposium featured a special guest speaker, Michael Fowlin, who engaged the audience with an original one man performance entitled “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me.” His original and powerful presentation brought a heightened awareness of the issues of race, discrimination, violence prevention and personal identity while also suggesting solutions. Students and workshop leaders gave him a standing ovation and have already been asking for him to return next year.

THE FIFTH ANNUAL STAND & DELIVER "NIGHT OF ELOQUENCE"


Steve Adubato with NY Giants
Defensive End, Michael Strahan
(Click for Video Clip)
At the conclusion of the program on April 28, 2004, “Stand & Deliver” held its fifth annual “Night of Eloquence” in the Victoria Theater at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Seventeen young adults were given the opportunity to “stand & deliver” before an audience of their peers, as well as community leaders from the Newark area. We had over 300 people in attendance to applaud our young adults as they presented original oratories, interpretations of poems and short stories. Further, Michael Strahan, All Pro Defensive End for the NY Giants, accepted the First Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Leadership Award for his commitment to the youth of America and his pursuit of excellence both on the field and off. Overall, the evening was truly a memorable event.

In addition to the presentations that took place that evening, “Stand & Deliver” presented a $2,500 “Stand & Deliver Communication Excellence Scholarship” to five students who demonstrated youth leadership and communication excellence in both their weekly workshops and in writing. The five students who received the “Stand & Deliver” scholarships were:

Video Clips from the Night of Eloquence Event


Ned Wogwugwu, Senior, Science High School
 "This is All I Know"- original composition
(Click for Video Clip)

Ah-Tavia Maxey, Senior, Central High School
"A Lost Child" - original composition
(Click for Video Clip)

Tyshawn Bouier, Junior, Barringer High School
Excerpt from "Julius Caesar" - William Shakespeare
(Click for Video Clip)

Al-nisa Petty, Freshman, Arts High School
"This Puzzles Me" - poem by Langston Hughes
(Click for Video Clip)

If you would like to learn more about the Stand & Deliver program, please call the Project Director, at (973) 233-9890.