♫♫ >>> GOOD DAY AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

I´M YOUR HOST IN THE VIRGIN ISLAND.

TODAY I´M SO PLEASED TO WELCOME A YOUNG ACTIVIST HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

HIS NAME IS ANTHONY, HE IS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND ACADEMICS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

GOOD DAY, ANTHONY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I´M DOING GREAT.

I HOPE EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING WELL.

>> I´M EXCITED, FIRST OF ALL, TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR WORK AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL AND THAT YOU´RE DOING SUCH GREAT THINGS, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT FOR BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY.

FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

TELL US ABOUT ANTHONY.

>> WELL, SO FIRST, MY PASSION IS THERE SO I´M ALWAYS INVOLVED WITH SURROUNDING POLITICAL THINGS.

BUT NONPROFIT SERVING CHILDREN HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I´M GOING TO BE STARTING A KNAPP PROFIT WORKING FOR CHILDREN.

BUT ME, IN HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATED FROM THE SAME SCHOOL.

AND I´M JUST A STUDENT WHO DOESN´T, YOU KNOW, SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS.

I MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WHO WAS SURROUNDING ME IS IN THE BEST INTEREST.

>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU I GUESS YOU COULD SAY INBREAD IN YOU OR SOMETHING YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR PARENTS, YOUR FAMILY?

HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

>> SO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER A LOT OF MY CLASSMATES, MY FRIENDS, THEY WEREN´T READING ON THE RIGHT LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN´T UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPTS THAT WERE BEING TAUGHT.

SO I STARTED TUTORING THEM ON WEEKENDS.

I WOULD TUTOR THEM IN READING.

THEN LEAK THIS ONE LADY NAMED CHARLOTTE, SHE WAS LIKE YOU CAN MAKE THIS INTO A PROGRAM, SO TURNED IT INTO A PROGRAM.

I DON´T MIND HELPING YOU OUT.

OF COURSE, WITH GETTING IT, YOU KNOW, NORGD THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2012, THEN IN 2013 I TOLD HIM UP WANTED TO MAKE THIS THING BIGGER.

I WANT TO REACH A BIGGER AUDIENCE.

WANT TO SERVE OUR BROTHERS, YOU KNOW, GO MORE TO THE STUDENTS DIRECTLY, SO WE MADE IT INTO ORGANIZATION.

THIS ORGANIZATION WENT THROUGH SEVEN DIFFERENT NAMES BEFORE WE CAME TO THIS NAME, AND SO ONCE WE CAME TO THIS NAME AND WE FINALIZED EVERYTHING, WE STARTED COMING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE ARE FREE AND IT´S SURROUNDED IN THE AREA OF THE PARK, ACADEMICS AND TRADE AND IT´S FOR STUDENTS AGES FIVE TO 14.

WITH THAT MISSION.

WE TRY TO PROVIDE FREE PROGRAMS THAT PARENTS DON´T HAVE TO HAVE A FINANCIAL BURDEN TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN INVOLVED IN SOMETHING POSITIVE.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED THIS?

>> SO NINE.

>> NINE?

>> YES.

NINE YEARS OLD.

AND OF COURSE MY PARENTS WERE THE ONES IN CHARGE.

THEY LET EVERYTHING.

BUT WHEN I TURNED 13 THEY TOLD ME YOU HAVE TO START DOING THIS NOW.

THIS IS YOUR ORGANIZATION.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD.

SO THEY WERE TEACHING ME THE RULES, BASICALLY RULES THAT OVER THE YEARS I´VE LEARNED.

ESPECIALLY, DIRECTOR ROLAND.

I´VE BEEN DOING IT AND I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT, BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ON MY OWN AND BEING IN CHARGE OF IT.

>> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF.

HOW IS IT STRUCTURED?

>> SO, YES.

WE HAVE A BOARD OF MANAGERS, OBVIOUSLY, I DON´T SEVEN ON THE BOARD.

IT´S A CONFLICT OF SW.

BUT WE HAVE A BOARD AND THEY DEAL WITH ALL THE FINANCIAL, YOU KNOW, OVERSIGHT.

SO WE PUT IN BUDGET AND THEN OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT, THE PRESIDENT IS IN CHARGE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION WITHIN ORGANIZATION AND THERE´S A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT IS ON SITE.

AND SO HE OR SHE ASSISTS THE PRESIDENT WITH ANY OTHER JOBS THEY HAVE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAS INDIVIDUAL PONDERS MYSELF AS I AM IN CONDITION.

I HAVE A DIRECTOR AND WE JUST APPROVED A MOTION TO START DOING PROGRAMS OVER IN ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN, SO WE HAVE A ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN DISTRICT DIRECTOR AND THEN WE HAVE ALL THE STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS.

BUT WE WILL -- WE MANAGE THOSE PRETTY WELL.

WE HAVE A GUIDELINES PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO PHENOMENON SO THERE´S NO CON PICTURE IN BETWEEN THE THINGS.

YES, WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS BUT WE SOLVE THEM AND GET THROUGH THEM.

BECAUSE THE CHILDREN IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY AND THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.

>> HOW IS IT FUNDED?

HOW IS THE ORGANIZATION FUNDED?

>> SO RIGHT NOW WE JUST RECEIVED A GRANT THAT WE HAVE A SUMMER CAMP.

THIS IS THE FIRST GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED SINCE STARTING, AND SO I´M SO PROUD OF US BEING ABLE TO GET A GRANT.

IT´S AN ORGANIZATION CALLED BRIGHT SPARKLE, SO THEY HAVE BEEN A CAMPAIGN FOR EVERYTHING.

BUT ONCE SOME OF THE GOALS ARE WE´LL BE STARTING TO GET MORE, YOU KNOW, FUNDS FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE PROGRAM.

>> SO RIGHT NOW UNTIL THAT HAPPENED, WE GET INFORMATION FROM EVENTS THAT WE OWE OR WE FUND RAISE OR INDIVIDUALS GIVE US DONATIONS OR WE JUST WRITE THEM UP TO THEIR FATHER, WHOEVER, STATING THAT THEY DONATED SOMETHING, SO THAT´S WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW.

>> TAKE US A LITTLE BIT -- OK. YOU SAY YOU COVER THE ARTS, ACADEMICS AND THE TRADES.

CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT EACH?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS THE FIRST TEMPLE.

IT´S IN THE NAME.

SO WE -- I´M AN ARTIST AND I DRAW ALL THE TIME, SO WHEN I SAID LET ME BRING THIS ORGANIZATION TO LIFE, I WANTED TO HAVE ARTS IN THERE, BECAUSE I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING THAT I WAS ACCUSTOMED TO, PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THAT I CAN SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

THE ARTS IN THE BEGINNING JUST COMES OVER THE YEARS THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULINARY ARTS, DEVELOPMENT OF THAT, AND DEVELOPING THE FASHION, DEVELOPED INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS WITHIN THE ARTS ARENA.

THEN WE MOVED ON TO ACADEMIC, IT´S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING FROM THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE YOU GET ENGLISH, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT, SO WE´VE ALWAYS HAD THAT A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND ACADEMICS ARE NOT UP TO PART FOR WHAT WE WANT FOR THE ORGANIZATION, THEY CAN´T PARCH OTHER ACTIVITIES UNTIL THEY BRING IT UP.

ACADEMICS ALWAYS BE IN SOMETHING WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEN TREAT.

THIS IS THE NEWEST ONE WE ADDED THIS ONE IN 2018 WHERE WE INVOLVED MECHANICS, AGRICULTURE, CONSTRUCTION, WE DO ELECTRICAL.

SO A LOT OF THE BOYS WILL COME INTO THE PROGRAM AND I HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND ASK THEM WHY AS TO WHY THEY WEREN´T COME AND THEY TOLD US THERE´S NOTHING FOR THEM THAT THEY´RE PASSIONATE ABOUT OR THAT THEY WANT TO DO.

SO I SAID OK, I UNDERSTAND.

BECAUSE ONCE THE ART CONTAINED MORE STUFF.

SO IT WAS LIKE OK, HOW CAN I DO THAT?

SO I BROUGHT THE TRADE PROGRAM IN AND THAT´S HOW THE MECHANICS AND THE AGRICULTURE AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MORE PEOPLE BECAME A PART OF THE PROGRAM.

>> I´M ASSUMING GIRLS ARE ALSO INTERESTED.

>> WE HAVE A FEW GIRLS INVOLVED AS WELL, AND BOYS CAN BE MAD SOMETIMES LIKE WHY IS SHE HERE.

BUT WE´RE OPEN BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BOYS WHO ARE IN TO DANCE AND FASHION, SO WE HAVE TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO EVERYONE.

>> RIGHT.

AGREED.

>> I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN POLITICS.

>> YES, YES.

>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, BUT IN LISTENING TO CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE CONCERN IS THAT A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF CIVICS, AND I´M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON THAT.

PEOPLE DON´T UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT OR WHY IT´S IMPORTANT TO BE ENGAGED IN YOUR LIFE, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

WHAT´S YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

>> SO THIS IS THE GENERAL THING.

YOU HAVE TO MATTER.

IT MATTERS, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE, YOU KNOW, THESE INDIVIDUALS MAKE THE LINES THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE BY, SO ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A MAJORITY OF CONGRESS WHERE REPUBLICANS IS GOING TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE LAWS BEING PASSED OR CONSERVATIVE AGENDA.

IF YOU HAVE MORE OF A DEMOCRAT, OF COURSE, THEY´RE GOING TO HAVE A MORE LIBERAL AGENDA AND MORE LIBERAL LAWS ARE GOING TO PASS.

NOT EVEN IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ITSELF, WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS AND SENATORS AND A FEW INDEPENDENTS.

A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS TEND TO COMPLAIN WHEN THE SENATORS AND INDIVIDUALS DON´T DO THEIR JOB, BUT THIS IS WHAT I TELL INDIVIDUALS A LOT OF TIME.

DON´T JUST READ THE CONFLICT THAT THEY GIVE YOU DURING THE ELECTION TIME.

YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND FIND OUT WHO THIS PERSON IS, HOW MUCH TIME HE´S DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE YOU CAN´T NOT INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU ARE ELECTING SBHOOB HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY OR WHO HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THEN IT´S AN IMPORTANT PART OF CIVICS.

SICHKS IS INVOLVED ENERGY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CAN BE AFFECTED BY IT.

AND SO INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE, THE YOUTH, ESPECIALLY, CIVICS IS IMPORTANT AND YOU ARE THE BACK BONE OF CIVICS, BECAUSE WE ARE THE FUTURE AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO FULFILL THESE ROLES AND SO POLITICS CAN HAVE A BIG BACKLASH BUT UNDERSTAND THE RULES THAT YOU´RE GETTING IN AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE DECISION THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.

EVEN IF YOU´RE DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, WHATEVER PARTY YOU ARE, MAKE SURE WHATEVER DECISIONS THAT YOU´RE MAKING IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> HOW DO YOU CONVINCE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY?

THERE´S THIS MALAISE, WELL, NO, WHY SHOULD I BE INVOLVED, WHY SHOULD I EVEN VOTE, YOU KNOW?

HOW DO YOU STIMULATE THAT KIND OF ACTION AS AN ADVOCATE.

>> THAT´S SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN´T, YOU KNOW, BORN WITH THE RIGHT TO.

SO HOLDING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

STUDENTS TEND TO TAKE THEIR VOICES LIGHTLY.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL CHAINS OF VOICES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE IF WE SEE SOMETHING AND STAND UP FOR IT AND PROTEST, IT GETS CHANGE OR WE GET HEARD.

I DO IT ALL THE TIME, YOUR VOICE MATTERS, AND BOTH CANDIDATES AND YOU PUT THEM IN AND THEY DON´T DO WHAT THEY´RE SUPPOSED TO DO, NEXT ELECTION, PUT THEM OUT.

BUT BASED ON WHAT THEY´VE SEEN, BUT I TELL CENTERS ALL THE TIME, YOUR VOICE MATTERS.

PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC EVENTS AND DON´T JUST LIMIT YOURSELF TO, OH, I DON´T WANT TO VOTE OR IT´S BORING.

YOU HAVE TO OPEN UP YOUR MIND TO THINGS.

THAT´S WHY MY NONPROFIT WE DO CIVIC EDUCATION AND WE HAVE MOCK SESSIONS ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY JUST GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING, NO.

YOU HAVE TO RUN, YOU HAVE TO DO A CAMPAIGN.

YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN, A WHOLE JINGLE.

WE TRIED TO MAKE IT FUN.

GETTING STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THINGS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT FUN.

YET, THE EDUCATION IS PERFECT AND THAT´S THE PURPOSE WHY YOU´RE DOING THIS PARTICULARLY THING IS IMPORTANT, SO WE TRIED TO DO CIVICS MAKE IT FUN AND INTERESTING.

SO MAKE IT FUN, AND I THINK THE STUDENTS WILL JOIN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE CHILDREN WANT TO -- YOU HAVE TO DO SCHOOL AND THAT´S ALREADY BORING.

YOU TRY TO GET THERE INTO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL BUT IT´S BORING.

NOBODY WANTS TO DO IT.

SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT SOME TYPE OF FUN IN THERE SO THE CHILDREN ARE INTERESTED.

>> I´M INTRIGUED THAT YOU ARE DOING A CIVICS ENGAGEMENT OR ACTIVITY.

AND THE CAMPAIGN.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE CAMPAIGNS AND WHAT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WHAT WASN´T?

>> THIS TIME DURING 2017, WHERE ONE STUDENT WAS LIKE NO MORE.

IT´S TIME FOR ME.

I WAS LIKE, OK, WHAT KIND OF SLOGAN IS THAT?

AND HE SPLAPD IT TO ME AND HE WAS LIKE, A LOT OF THE POLITICIANS, THEY DON´T HAVE ANY COMMON SENSE.

THEY DON´T KNOW WHAT THEY´RE DOING.

IT´S TIME FOR HER TO COME IN AND CHANGE.

YOU GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN MORE THAN THAT, BECAUSE I WANT MORE DETAIL AS TO WHY THAT´S SLOGAN.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF THING IN YOUR BACKGROUND.

HE TOLD ME ABOUT HOW THE CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS ARE TERRIBLE AND HE WENT INTO DETAIL.

THIS YOUNG PERSON BECOME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ONE DAY, SO I CONNECTED HIM WITH THE SENATOR AND THAT SENATOR TAUGHT HIM HOW TO WRITE A PAPER AND HE TAUGHT HIM THOUSAND TO WRITE IT, HOW IT GOES ABOUT IN THE SYSTEM, IN THE GOVERNMENT, WHO APPROVES IT, WHO SIGNS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

HE´D BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICAL THINGS.

HE JUST GRADUATED.

HE´S GOING TO GRADUATE FROM JUNIOR HIGH.

WHEN HE GOES INTO HIGH SCHOOL HE´S GOING TO GET INVOLVED IN GSC.

JUST FROM ME MOLDING HIM AND TELLING HIM YOU HAVE TO SHAPE YOUR SLOGAN IN DETAIL, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES CAN BE DON´T DETAILS AND THAT´S WHY A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE SO SCHOLAR AND WHEN THEY ELECT INDIVIDUALS THEY EXPECT SOMETHING THAT THE CANDIDATE WAS TRYING TO IMPRESS.

ANOTHER TIME WE HAD THIS YOUNG LADY AND SHE HAD THIS CAMPAIGN POSTER AND I WAS SEEING A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, HAIR DRESSERS AND COLDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT ON THE CAMPAIGN.

THEY WERE LIKE WHAT IS IT?

THIS IS A DOZEN TOY OR SOMETHING?

THIS IS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING AND SHE WAS LIKE, MY POSTER SIGNALS IS THAT TECH IS HOW DOES THAT EXPLAIN?

BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A DOZEN TOY FLYER TO ME.

SHE EXPLAINED AND SAID IT´S IMPORTANT, A LOT OF FEMALES IN THE COMMUNITY DO THAT.

SHE WANTS TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CHASE THE DREAM AND FOR THE SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE EQUIPMENT, MORE TECHNOLOGY, MORE THINGS BASED ON THE CURRICULUM, SO THAT´S WHEN FEMALES ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO HERE, THEY HAVE FUN DOING IT.

SO I WAS LIKE, OK, I UNDERSTAND.

YOU´RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPRESS THAT TO THE PUBLIC, TOO, BECAUSE I THINK WHEN THEY SEE THE CAM MAIN FLYER LIKE THAT, THEY´RE GOING TO WONDER THE SAME THING.

MAKE YOUR CAMPAIGN NICE SHORT, SWEET, AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT IN DETAIL.

YOU DON´T WANT TO PUT ALL THAT INFORMATION ON YOURSELF BECAUSE NOBODY´S GOING TO READ IT.

MAKE SURE IF YOU´RE DOING SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY AND HOLD THE BOX LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE A STRONG EXPLANATION TO IT.

THE EASILY TEAR YOU DOWN FROM WHATEVER YOU EXPLAINED AND I TELL THEM DON´T LET THAT FAZE YOU.

KEEP ON GOING, KEEP ON MOVING AND YOU´LL GET ELECTED.

>> NOW, WAS THAT AN ACRONYM FOR THE COMPLEX?

>> YEAH.

IT´S LIKE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

>> OK. >> SHE HAD TO FLYER AND LIKE I SAID, THE COMBS AND BRUSH AND EVERYTHING.

SHE WANTED TO JUST TRY TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR, YOU KNOW, PURSUING DOZEN TOY.

>> THE AGE OF STUDENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH?

>> AGES FIVE TO 14.

THEY WERE 15 AT ONE POINT BUT A LOT OF 15-YEAR-OLDS DID NOT PARTAKE IN MISSED EVENTS.

WE SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, GO DOWN ONE GRADE.

WE NOW HAVE 15-YEAR-OLDS AND UP VOLUNTEER, SO THEY VOLUNTEER WITH US NOW.

A LOT OF THE SENSE THAT WE HAD, THEY´RE GOING OVERTIME AND THEY VOLUNTEER WITH THE YOUNGER STUDENTS THAT COME IN.

IT´S A CYCLE THAT WE HAVE.

BUT IN THE BEGINNING, A LOT OF THE VOLUNTEERS WAS LIKE I DON´T HAVE TO RESPECT UP BECAUSE YOU´RE YOUNG, AND SO -- WE HAD ISSUES WITH THAT.

BECAUSE I WORK SO HARD AND EVERYBODY WHO´S SUPPORTING ME, WE WORK HARD AND TO DISRESPECT ALL OF US IS NOT COOL.

I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT DOWN AND TELL THEM JUST BECAUSE I´M YOUNG DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CAN DISRESPECT ME.

I´M THE PERSON IN CHARGE AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW MY LEAD.

AND IF YOU DON´T WANT TO, EXPRESS WHY?

AND IF YOUR EXPLANATION IS VALID, WE´LL GO WITH IT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO EXPRESS TO ME WHY.

YOU CAN´T JUST COME UP WITH SOMETHING, BE UPSET AND EXPRESS WHY.

THAT COMMUNICATION IS NOT MEANT.

PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN DIFFERENCES AND THINGS CAN´T BE SOLVED, SO THAT´S ALL WE HANDLE.

>> GOOD POINT.

IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU PARTICIPATE IN YOUR PROGRAM, HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT DOING THAT?

>> THEY CAN E-MAIL US AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ARTS.

WE ARE ON FACEBOOK.

IT CAN MESSAGE OF FEAR.

IT CAN EVEN CALL US 300.

SO THEY CAN GET INVOLVED ANY WAY POSSIBLE AND WE´RE ALWAYS OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS OR APPLICATION PRACTICE FOR LIKE VOLUNTEERS.

IT´S SIMPLE, IT´S NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

BUT FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, IF YOU´RE COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A POLICE BACKGROUND CHECK.

CERTAIN THINGS, IT CAN BE EASY AT TIMES WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS BEING TOUGH BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND AND IF ANYONE IS A FELON OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

UNDERSTANDABLE.

HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR WORK?

>> SO WE CLOSED -- WE HAD TO CLOSE LAST YEAR, MARCH, WE CLOSED BECAUSE WE DIDN´T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS TIME.

SO WE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

WE JUST OPEN BACK APRIL 16th, AND SO WE WERE EXCITED TO OPEN BACK TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS VIRTUAL.

EVERYTHING THAT WE´RE DOING WAS VIRTUAL.

THE WORK THAT WE WERE HANDLING, EVERY SINGLE ASPECT WAS VIRTUAL.

SO WE OPENED BACK IN APRIL AND WE WERE HELPING WITH OUR DONATION DRIVE IN THE AGAIN DEANS, IMPACTED BY THE VOLCANOES.

WE DIDN´T GET A CHANCE TO RELAX.

RIGHT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AGAIN DOING DONATION DRIVES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT FUNDING WAS SCARCE.

IT WAS A LOT OF MY STAFF APPLY BECAUSE WE WSHTS ABLE TO PAY THEM.

THAT´S JUST -- THAT WAS JUST TAKES UP THE WHOLE PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF STUDENTS MISSED US.

WE HAD A LOT OF FIRST VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP.

IT WORKED BUT IT WAS A DISASTER IN THE BEGINNING.

INTERNET, TABLETS AND OTHER THINGS GOT IN THE WAY OF OUR PURPOSE, BUT BY JUNE, BY THE THIRD WEEK IN JUNE, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL CAMP OF STUDENTS IN THEIR HOMES.

THEY HAD AGRICULTURE.

SO IT HAS ITS OWN.

IT BROUGHT US TOGETHER EVEN MORE.

AND WE MISS EACH OTHER IN PERSON.

15th IT WAS JUST LIKE, WOW.

LITERALLY A YEAR AGO WE WERE JUST HOME AND NOW WE´RE BACK GETTING READY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AGAIN, SO THAT´S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, THAT WE´RE BACK AND THAT WE´RE HAPPY AND WE´RE DOING IT WELL.

>> THAT´S FANTASTIC.

SO HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH SUBJECTS TO COVER?

YOU KNOW, HOW IS IT STRUCTURED?

LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN JANUARY WE´LL DO THE ARTS.

IN FEBRUARY WE´LL DO DANCE.

YOU KNOW, OR MARCH WE´LL DO MECHANICS.

HOW IS THAT SET UP?

IS THERE A PLACE WHERE IS SOMEBODY CAN GO AND REFER TO A SCHEDULE, FOR EXAMPLE?

>> YES.

SO WE HAVE A COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY AND INSTRUCTOR, SO THE INSTRUCTORS, THEY TAUGHT -- THEY TALK AND COME UP WITH AT THIS TIME THEY WANT TO DO AND WHAT´S PLANS OF THAT.

THEN THEY SEND A QUOTE TO ME.

I OBVIOUSLY GO THROUGH IT, SEE IF I APPROVE IT.

IF I DISAPPROVE IT I HAVE TO SEND THEM A LETTER STATING WHY.

THE CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, LIKE THE SATURDAY EXPOSURE PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE WORKSHOPS ON SATURDAYS AND GET BREAKFAST, I´M GOING TO GET LUNCH.

THEY CAN PARTICIPATE INSPECT DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

SO WE HAVE THAT, BUT OTHERWISE, WE JUST SEND A LETTER TO ME OR DOCUMENT STATING WHAT ACTIVITIES YOU WANT TO DO, AND I SIGN UP LIKE I SAID, IF I APPROVE IT.

IF NOT, I SEND A LETTER LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WILL I DISAPPROVE IT AND THESE ARE THE CHANGES BEING MADE.

IF NOT, THEY CAN OVERRIDE.

MY VEETDO, THEN THEY SEND IT BACK TO ME AND EVENTUALLY I SIGN IT.

SO SOMETIMES I DON´T AGREE WITH IT, BUT TURNS OUT IT ACTUALLY WORKS, SO YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT DOESN´T WORK AND IT WAS MY BEST INTEREST OF NOT APPROVING IT.

>> SO IT´S POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SERIES OF DISCIPLINES RUNNING CONCURRENTLY.

>> YES.

THE THERE´S A BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN EVERYBODY.

>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE YOUR VETO POWER DIDN´T KICK IN OR DID.

>> SO IT WAS ABOUT STARTING WE DID ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND A PARTICULARLY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I KNOW A LOT OF TRAFFIC DOESN´T PASS THROUGH, AND SO I WAS LIKE, OK, THIS IS NOT -- THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON´T PASS THROUGH HERE.

THEY´RE NOT GOING TO SEE -- WE´RE NOT GOING TO MAKE MONEY, THE FUNDRAISERS, IT´S GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME.

SO I BOTH KNOW -- I SAID NO BECAUSE I DON´T SEE THIS WORKING OUT IN THIS PARTICULARLY NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD THAT.

AND SO A LOT OF, YOU KNOW,ING THE INSTRUCTORS ON THE COMBINI WAS LIKE YOU DON´T WANT US TO MAKE MONEY.

I WANT US TO MAKE FUNDS.

I WANT US TO BE ABLE TO FLOURISH, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN PLACES WHERE A LOT OF TRAFFIC IS AT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME AND PURCHASE FOOD OR DO WHATEVER FUNDRAISER WE WERE DOING.

SO I SEND THEM A LETTER STATING THAT I´M NOT APPROVING IT HERE.

WE CAN STILL HAVE THE FUNDRAISER.

IT´S JUST THAT WE´RE NOT HAVING IT HERE.

THEY DID TELL ME, WE´RE GOING TO OVERRIDE YOUR VOLT.

SO THEY OVERRIDE IT.

THE FUNDRAISER WENT AT THE PLACE.

WE MADE NO MONEY, SO THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND WAS LIKE, WE SHOULD -- WE DIDN´T MAKE ANY MONEY.

I´M LIKE NEXT TIME FOLLOW MY LEAD.

AND SO THE NEXT TIME THEY BROUGHT UP PROPOSALS, IT WAS IN A BETTER PLACE WHERE MORE TRAFFIC IS FREQUENT.

I APPROVED IT.

>> EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

WELL, IN THE TWO MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT, ANTHONY.

>> YES.

>> WHAT´S IN STORE FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE?

>> SO I´M GOING TO BE THE RESIDENCY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I WANT TO BE STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE.

I PLAN ON BECOMING ONE OF THE YOUNGEST SENATORS IN THE U.S.LE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THAT´S ONE OF MY GOALS, GOING IN THERE, CHANGING LIVES, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN GROWING UP, HAVE LIVES THAT RELATE TO THEM AND NOT AGAINST THEM.

SO THAT´S MY MAIN GOAL, GETTING, BECOMING A SENATOR AND EVENTUALLY GOING INTO THE U.S. CONGRESS, A CAREER AND WHEN I´M DONE WITH THAT, I WILL GO INTO ACTING.

ARTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PASSION OF MINE AND I WANT TO SEE ACTING ACTUALLY WORKS FOR ME.

SO THAT´S MY FUTURE SO FAR.

>> IT´S KIND OF LIKE A ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER IN REVERSE.

>> YES.

>> CAN YOU SHARE WITH US HOW TO REACH YOU?

>> AGAIN, YOU CAN E-MAIL US AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ARTS.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US AT 340-690-1877.

YOU CAN SEE US ON FACEBOOK AT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR ARTS AND ACADEMICS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THAT´S HOW YOU CAN REACH US.

>> ANTHONY, IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.