GET IT, GOT IT? DO IT!

SAMANTHA P. WILLIAMS

FOUNDER/ PRESIDENT OF GIFTED SOULS THEATER

On January 2013 Gifted Souls Theater was created to help Artist and inner City youths to express themselves through Performing Arts while gaining self confidence and giving back to the community. G.S.T is a budding program that aims to give undeserved youths and new artists a platform to express themselves through various arts forms such as Acting, Singing, Dancing and all other creative Art forms using our Motto: GET IT, GOT IT? DO IT! 

We have worked with the youth in the Harlem Community Centers, College Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury. We are recognized by MTVu as changemakers within our community, The Huffington Post, Union Settlement News and SUNY Old Westbury. 

To make a donation email us: GiftedSoulsDoit@Gmail.com

Instagram: GiftedSoulsTheater

The Board of Directors

Samantha P. Williams- Founder, CEO, President

Alexandria McCalla- COO, Vice President

Aliyah Ashley- Secretary

Shantol Williams- Treasurer

THE FIRST 6!

Co-founder Brianna Watson stoops as she takes a picture with the first six students of Gifted Souls to be consistent and on time to our Friday classes (3-6pm). The six talented ladies that began the journey of our Theater Program Tatayanna, Mitchelle, Bianca, Haliemat, Anaya and Celicia.

CYCLE 2 M.O.P.S

Mind Over Physical Strength.

Gifted Souls' first production located at The Union Settlement Association in East Harlem.

Each student prepared their own monologues, songs and scenes over the course of 2 months.

The Play taught a message that the mind is much more powerful that physical strength. 4 school girls go through their days journey at school as they speak about their struggles with their fathers, learning how to dance and empowering each other to achieve their goals in learning while learning how to perform. Any one can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.

CYCLE 3: STAR SURVIVORS

In Spring 2014, Gifted Souls entered their first partnership with the First Year Experience of SUNY College at Old Westbury. Cycle 3 has set the trend as the first group of interns who must fulfill 35 hours for the semester. Each student demonstrates their growth in their confidence levels and leadership skills while learning new ways to express themselves through Acting, Singing, Dancing, Instrumental and Community Service Projects.

CYCLE 4: WHERE AM I NOW?

During the Summer of 2014. Gifted Souls held a cycle dedicated to those participants that were apart of Cycle 2. The Objective was to ensure that they were continuing to use their resources to express themselves through Performing Arts. The ladies were able to perform songs, and skits to showcase their growth within their gift.

CYCLE 5: PANTHER PRIDE!

 One of the newest  Clubs located on the campus of SUNY College at Old Westbury!

At the conclusion of Cycle 4 and the Freshmen Internship, Gifted Souls became open to the entire Old Westbury Population. Gifted Souls then became a club and began catering its services to all registered students. Gifted Souls was then recognized by Mtvu for being Changemakers within our Community and impacting the college campus through performing Arts.

CYCLE 6: NO EXCUSES, JUST XPRESSION

The 3rd Annual Talent Show to raise awareness for Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

During the 2nd Spring Semester at SUNY Old Westbury Gifted Souls Transitioned into being a Spring internship program catered to Freshmen students apart of the CALL program (Community Action Learning and Leadership)

 The classes were held on Fridays from 12-4pm.

        The Children’s Shangai and G.S.T formed a partnership and began the Jamaican Book Fund. At the completion of the Cycle, G.S.T hosted their annual Talent Show to honor women that are Battling Breast Cancer.

CYCLE 7: 15 MINUTES OF FAME

“Turning the Stairs into our Stage”

During the fall Semester 2015, We wanted to create a new and exciting way to artist within the Old Westbury Community to express themselves.

We created 15 Minutes of Fame which featured 4 performers within 15 Minutes in the Campus Center which is the most popular hang out spot on campus. During Common Hour all students will walk through the campus center to either enter, or exit the building. The performers would get their 15 Minutes of Fame for performing in the middle of the college campus while the audience sat on the stairs, stood up on the corridor, or stopped quickly on their way in or out  of the building.    We also held our Annual Show time at the Apollo featuring RNB boys group Exit 21.

CYCLE 8
The first Experience

This was the first time that an intern for Gifted Souls were able to work with the club aspect of Gifted Souls.

Our intern was Joshua Pettion who worked with the Student Government Association,Gifted Souls Executive Board and  Children Shangai while attending classes to maintain internship Hours.

At the conclusion of the Cycle we hosted our 4th Annual Talent Show RISING STARS “Not just Surviving, but Thriving”.

This Talent show was dedicated to Tanya, a member of the Nassau Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. who is a Survivor or Breast Cancer.

Cycle 9

After the members of Gifted Souls completed their Bachelor's degree, we relocated our services to the Bronx and Mount Vernon. We created a bi weekly open mic night at the Steam House Restaurant and lounge.

To introduce our Open Mic Night to the community we began with the Gifted Wednesday Talent ShowCase which featured artist from around the community. All proceeds were directed giving youths an outlet towards Expressing, Executing and Emancipating themselves through Performing Arts.

All artists had to audition and experienced weekend trainings to prepare them for the showcase.

Cycle 10

The Open Mic night was open to the community and did not require an audition.

To prepare for Gifted Souls’ 4TH Anniversary we held our Masquerade Party that was open to all Boroughs in the State of New York.

Gifted Souls' 4th Anniversary Masquerade Celebration is Sponsored by:

Kadia NYC

Steam House Restaurant and Lounge

Stephen Photography

Ridgewood Savings Bank

Cirque De Soliel PARAMOR

Save- A- Thon

H.I.M Ital Health Food Market

Jedediah Boikai