Well, something really cool is happening in downtown South Bend.

That's right.

On Friday, the sneaker art competition.

And I love it.

Thank you so much, Demetrius, for joining us for this.

This is something unique.

This is the first time you guys are doing anything like this.

Yes, ma'am.

Tell me what the sneaker art competition is.

So it's really an initiative, you know, and getting our, like, our youth, the more involved.

Yeah, I love that.

Yeah, yeah.

So it's going to be a really cool time.

There's going to be DJs involved, like.

So the music is going with the kids as they're, and they're doing a designs on a canvas sneaker that's just like this.

Okay.

So is it like groups of kids?

How does this work?

It is so, so, there's the high school kids, and then it's the, it's the middle school kids.

Okay.

And so they're going to be all, sitting together and doing it at the same time.

Great.

But yeah.

How long do they have to make their art?

The deadline is one hour.

One hour?

They get one hour to do this.

Okay, everybody kind of gets the same when you call us a canvas.

I would.

Yeah.

So the canvas sneaker, actually, that's what I.

That's what I look like a Converse but it's not actually.

Yeah I know it's getting there.

It's okay.

Yeah.

It'll be a Converse in a day.

Okay.

So we have middle schoolers in high school come in to do this.

And everybody who's in is already signed up.

Right.

So it's not something that people are going to come in sign up day of or anything.

Nope.

Nope okay.

All the finals are closed.

Yep.

Okay.

That's good to know.

So but you can come in.

Watch.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah.

So it's open to the entire the public at, at the Howard Park Event Center.

Okay.

It'll be dope.

I love it, I love it.

What time is it happening?

It's from 5 to 7.

5 to 7.

Okay, so let's look at these ones.

These are who did these ones.

So this was done.

These are cool I love so it's our seventh and eighth graders.

If you look at this design this kid, they did it in five minutes like I saw them.

They take they took the shoe and they got it done instantly.

It was crazy.

I'll tell you, my husband is really good at Fred Flintstone.

Oh, that's that's actually right.

See that?

But see, these are so.

Oh, I love this little.

Yes.

This is the first kid.

Actually, this is the one that started off.

I appreciate him, because the kids were nervous.

He was like, I'll do it.

Okay, man, thank you so much.

And then he led to all of this and even, like, coloring the laces and things like that, too.

What is your guys's plan for afterwards?

How are these going to be displayed or showcased?

So the goal of now is to put them all over our center's, O'Brien center, the Dream Center, the Charles Black center, the Howard Park Event center.

Yeah.

It's just like the initiative to show off our youth and their talents.

And I think that means so much to them.

You know, you and I were talking just before we got started.

You.

But I have younger kids, and and a couple of them are very creative.

You know, kiddos.

And finding these unique ways for our kids to share that art.

Why is that important for them?

It's important because it gives them a confidence and and being exactly who they are.

You know, a lot of time these kids are stuck with the idea of, you know, I'm in school, I have to go and get a job after.

And agile has to be a office job that has, you know, like a 9 to 5.

It's gotta be like something that, you know, doesn't give me any flexibility to have nothing to do, like a personal type passion, you know?

So, so yeah, it's important like to show the kids that it is possible, you know, and that creativity, you know, opportunities, they can spring.

Absolutely.

And this is a great way to kind of start that too.

So they're also going to get a say okay.

So this is what they're going to be using.

Is that.

Yes ma'am.

Okay.

So 60 colors.

Oh it's a ballpoint.

And it's also like a brush point.

So, so it's like a fine tip.

And then also a big tip.

So, so if you want to have like your brush aspect that's in there and if you want to have like your stencil aspect, that's also in here, okay.

So the kids will get these, they're going to get the shoes.

They're going to decorate them or art them.

Yeah they're going to art them.

It's a mixture of both actually, because the kids are also able to bring in, any, any type of pens or, or, you know, I would they want to get like some glitter.

Yeah.

Some rhinestones I love it.

Yeah.

I'm really excited to see what these kids come up with.

I am too, man.

It's going to be a special time.

I'm just happy to see the kids in their element and their flow, you know?

Yeah.

And I actually, one of my kiddos decorated her shoes.

Oh, a couple, a couple of years ago, and she's like seven years old.

Business.

Yeah, exactly.

So, I mean, this is a thing that let's talk about that like sneakers are a thing.

It is they've come back, right?

Yes it is.

I definitely, I even have a friend who's going to be a judge as well.

It's terrible.

Tony.

And they actually, they take, Air Force One and they put their paint on them.

Oh.

And they have a paint of, like, a floral type of vibe.

Yeah, it's really special.

So so you people see that and the adults and see that in the kids.

Yeah.

Like it's a universal idea.

That's really cool.

And I love that they're going to be showcased afterwards too.

There's other stuff going on this Friday as well.

You want to talk a little bit about that.

So and the and then honor of a 160 SB 160, which is crazy, right.

Like I feel like the 150 celebration just happened a year ago.

It was just a few years ago.

And so much fun was actually ten.

It was ten years ago, something 160 years for the city of South Bend.

Yes, ma'am.

So this is kind of that kind of collaboration, and I love that you're bringing more of the art impact into it.

Yes, man, talk about that.

And so and that effort, there's going to be the sneaker art, the competition.

And also there's our first Friday, our concert series at, oh, our park, and is being extended, to 6 to 9, actually.

So yeah.

Oh, great.

You know, there's going to be so much for people to do downtown, and I love that.

I mean, everything that's happening here with the South, but with the VPA, which you guys are doing to just continues to expand.

And it's so great for our community.

You know, how many people do you think are actually do you know how many kids are a part of the sneaker art?

There's 30 kids out of now.

30 kids, 30 kids.

In middle school.

And they're 15.

And, in high school.

Okay.

It worked out like this.

It was perfect.

That's perfect.

And is it going to be in this building and will be okay?

It'll be inside of our events in our rooms.

Okay.

So, like, as you walk into our how apart is a straight line all the way to the back.

Okay.

Perfect.

And people can come in and out here, too, and, you know, that's great.

So they can come swing by.

They can, you know, grab a bite to eat.

Yeah.

Check in on the kiddos at the public house.

You can you can get a drink.

You can get some food.

And then you can go down to the counselor series.

You can come back, check on the kiddos.

It'll be a great time.

I love to point out, to do people need to bring like a lawn chair for the concert?

Is that a good idea?

I would say so.

Okay, if you have a lawn chair, I would say so, yeah, you just bring that out.

Okay, good.

Well, I know this is the first time you guys are doing something like the sneaker art competition.

And what else do you envision for, you know, kind of bringing in the art aspect for SBA.

So there's a lot of things that, the team is working on out of now.

There's a mural mania that's going on.

Yes.

So that's always love that.

That's pivotal.

Every year.

Every year it's one I had.

I mean, even just that just seeing that on our walls, on our buildings across the entire area year after year.

Now it keeps growing too, right?

That's incredible and beautiful.

Till then, a big shout out to Alex Allen.

Yeah I'm leading that.

Yeah amazing project.

And yeah so there's more ideas that include the sneaker competition.

The plan as of now is to do it actually at our fusion festival, September 27th and 28th.

Okay.

We got to get that on the calendar, too.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, okay.

We're gonna have you guys all back out here again and, and the kids that are winners of that, they're going to win the tickets to go to the Final Four.

Oh, for this competition.

Oh, yes.

And that's amazing.

That's the festival.

Okay.

So, so so that will be our second edition.

This first one is really exciting because if you win this one in South Bend, it'll take you to the statewide competition.

And that's.

And Indianapolis okay.

That's awesome.

That's incredible I love that there's something like this.

It's almost like, you know it's a for each kind of opportunity.

Yeah.

But it gives you the creativity in this format.

Yeah.

That's exactly the visual to love it I love it I of course I don't have the sneakers on today.

That going to be hers I know.

Look I have I'm going to give you my little foot.

That's the perfect fit.

Yeah.

The perfect fit it is.

They've signed them up because anybody wanted to make their own art.

Sneakers.

What might you say to them?

I would say, that's a great idea.

Yeah, yeah.

And get the right side.

If you're getting a converse type of sneaker, I think you want to run a side a little bigger.

But, Yeah, I was saying that's a great idea.

It shows originality, too.

So, you know, just that confidence in yourself to like, hey, like, I can do this in your personality.

Yes, yes.

And and that's the big thing.

Like, I know even as a kid, when I was at La Salle and I had to wear a uniform, which I always, you know, there's a uniform.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

No, I don't even do that no more.

But I, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

But even another idea like it was important, right.

To have like, those wristbands on was important to have like, the shoe laces with different colors and things you can.

It shows like just a small little detail, the individuality.

It reminds me of Will Smith, who always.

And you know, he.

Oh yeah, he had his jacket.

Oh, okay.

Inside out.

Oh my God.

Well, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Yeah, that's a throwback.

That's the way to do it.

We'll see here Friday night.

Come watch these kiddos make some amazing art.

Thank you so much to me.

Thank you guys I appreciate you guys for having me out.