The Alternative Press

MORRISTOWN, NJ – He dances around the three smiling teens, rapping about bodegas, and a shop owner who helps kids patronizing it to make healthy food choices.

The students who participated in New York City Hip Hop Playwright Gus Gauntlet’s “Music 4 Life” introduction to creating what he described as, “full-length plays totally in rhyme”, each had their own starring role in a snippet of his play “Mother Nature is Hip Hop”, as Gauntlet familiarized them with the upcoming program.

“The whole idea of this program is for you, or anyone you know, who might like to rap, write poetry, or make your own CD’s,” Gauntlet told them.

Students met Gauntlet at the Teen Center at the Salvation Army for the group TeenPride recently, to tell them more about the program, which is free for all participants of middle school and high school ages (registration required), and sponsored by Arts By The People.

Gauntlet (click here to read his bio on Arts By The People), a Morristown native, works as a youth mentor, and teaching about the positivity behind the Hip Hop Culture.

Gauntlet, now a resident of Sunset Park in Brooklyn said, “Teen Pride brought me in to do the workshop at the end of June, and young people can come in to write, and record poetry.”

Students who met Gauntlet, came from as far as Summit that evening. Representatives at the teen center said students stretching from as far as Sussex County, and New Brunswick, have come to attend programs.

The teen center offers a safe after-school environment with homework club, computer lab, “Proper Respect for Others and Self” (P.R.O.P.S) discussion group, open gym, soccer program, and summer programs.

TeenPride goes by the motto of “changing our country’s future one teen at a time.”

“We’re trying to make sure this a place where anyone feels comfortable,” Jamie Pooler, the Teen Center Assistant Director, and Kim Seelagy, the Administrative Manager, agreed.

TeenPride offers a counseling program as well at Morristown High School and Frelinghuysen Middle School, with services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for students ages 12 through 18.

TeenPride is a 501(c) (3) organization geared to help improve the lives of the young people it serves in Morristown, Morris Township, and Morris Plains.

The upcoming “Music 4 Life” program starts June 18 at 5:30pm until 7pm for two weeks, Monday through Friday (no Wednesdays).

Call Dan at (973) 993-1699 or email Gauntlet at: karmareigns@gmail.com for more information.

To learn more about TeenPride, click here to access their website or here for their Facebook page.