In June of 1998, Mr. Vincent DeForest presented an idea to the Saturday Academy staff to form a youth choir of Saturday Academy youth. His plan was to highlight the youth singers at an historical event announcing Mrs. Melba Moore as a spokesperson for the UGRR movement initiated by H.R. 1635, signed by President Bill Clinton on July 21, 1998. This was the birth of the Network to Freedom Youth Singers. Named for the International Network to Freedom Association (INTFA), the organization mandated to form as a result of the passage of this bill, this youth choir is in the forefront of the underground railroad movement initiated by this recently passed bill.

The Network to Freedom Youth Singers have been recruited from Washington, Maryland, and Virginia and range from ages 11-18. A blending of generations and a coming together of people from varied economical backgrounds, as well as physical challenges, is accomplished in the forming of this 30 voice choir.

In April of 1998, the Saturday Academy program began a partnership with the Kiamsha Youth Organization of Prince George's County to provide training for the youth of the Saturday Academy. Established in 1992, the mission of this youth organization is to deter youth from the use of alcohol, tobacco, as well as participation in acts of violence and premature sexual activity in an effort to prevent teenage pregnancy. Kiamsha youth receive training in communications skills, workshop development and facilitation, conflict resolution, and diversity and utilize these skills to reach youth with their message.

Through their involvement with the Saturday Academy program, both Kiamsha and the Network to Freedom Youth Singers have been trained extensively in the history of the underground railroad. The Network to Freedom Youth Singers and the Kiamsha Youth Organization was a natural partnering because Kiamsha's initiative to produce a Compact Disc (CD) which through narration and song expresses the meaning and parallel of the underground railroad story to the lives of youth today needed a youth choir to complete its efforts. The modern-day underground railroad concept expresses that, "No longer the North against the South or vice versa--the country remains torn as history now repeats itself through chemical and other forms of enslavement. New slavemasters such as drugs, violence, sexual obscurities, crime, racial disharmony, etc., come in all shapes and shades. ." Kiamsha youth narrate the story; and, the Network to Freedom Youth Singers sing each song on the CD to reiterate each point of narration making the message clearer. The goal of this joint CD project is to incorporate Kiamsha's message of abstinence from premature sexual activity, drugs, and violence through the message of a modern-day underground railroad concept; and, accomplish the shared mission of INTFA to encourage youth to evade capture by these modern-day slavemasters and promote racial harmony. The 12-selection CD is projected for release sometime this year.

This project has an educational focus and has the ability to highlight the musical and artistic talent of our youth.

The 12 selection CD will appeal to youth and adults in the secular and religious communities.

PATH TO THE RAINBOW OF LOVE