From City announcement:

Richmond, VA – Teens from the Mayor’s Youth Academy will present the Lifestages Showcase at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 20, 2010, at the Landmark Theatre, 6 North Laurel Street. The showcase will feature Mayor’s Youth Academy participants ages 14 through 15 in a variety of artistic performances to include song, dance, theatre, fashion and more. The public is strongly encouraged to attend this free event.

“It has been an exciting summer and I am pleased with all that the young people involved with the Mayor’s Youth Academy have accomplished over the past few months. I have a real vision for our youth in Richmond and I pledge the city’s continued investment in their future,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “I would like to thank the public, private and non-profit entities who have partnered with us in providing this tremendous service to our city’s youth.”

During recent months, more than 442 city youth participated in the Mayor’s Youth Academy program. Approximately 172 youth between the ages of 14 and 15 participated in the Life Stages program which consisted of leadership training and life skills enrichment opportunities, while 67 youth within the same age range participated in the Youth Urban Conservation Corps. This summer, 203 city youth between the ages of 16 through 19 were employed in public, private and non-profit organizations.

Mayor Jones launched the Mayor’s Youth Academy earlier this year to reduce teen crime, social deviant behavior and create a future emerging workforce. The program is constructed to provide development opportunities designed to promote leadership, career awareness, workforce skill development, community engagement, improve school attendance, heighten understanding of career and educational pathways, and increase the number of high school students graduating with post-secondary aspirations. The Mayor’s Youth Academy program has had a 98 percent retention rate with several youth being offered both full and part-time employment.