ABOUT LIVING LITERATURE/COLORS UNITED Living Literature/Colors United (LL/CU) is a non-profit, multi-ethnic performing arts organization for inner-city youth. Founded in 1990 at Jordan High School in Watts, it's mission is to motivate "at risk" youth by awakening an interest in learning and to promote life-long academic, artistic and professional skills among students. Through an extra-curricular program that utilizes literature, drama, music, and dance, Colors United steers hundreds of youngsters away from drugs and gangs and helps them to fulfill their talents and potentials. It also encourages students to build discipline and self-esteem. They learn communication skills that help bridge barriers of race and color within the group and in their community. All students in the program are expected to maintain a grade point average of 2.2 or higher, and using drugs or possessing any kind of weapon is strictly forbidden. Since Colors was founded, 100% of its students have graduated from high school. 90% go to college or trade school, many on full scholarship. Truancy and drop-out rates have decreased significantly at Jordan, Locke and Venice High Schools where Colors is active, as have racial conflicts and disciplinary problems. Each Saturday the students get together to practice their dancing, singing and acting techniques and spend time in an environment that is safe, fun and full of love. Members from Colors United frequently perform plays and musicals for the public, written by the students themselves. Other repertoire pieces included works adapted from Shakespeare, John Steinbeck, Jack London and Ernest Hemingway. LL/CU members travel and perform around the country and beyond. They performed with Michael Jackson at the Super Bowl and for President Clinton's inaugural celebration in Washington, DC in 1993; for Governor Pete Wilson's inaugural in Sacramento; at literature/performance festivals from California to Florida; and this year 20 students traveled to Denmark to teach and perform at the Copenhagen Cultural Capitol Festival. Every year Colors students are awarded the Governor's Medal for the Arts, the state's highest arts achievement award, and attend the California State Summer School for the Arts. Now seven years strong, the program continues to grow and expand to new schools, reaching into new communities and providing the opportunities to succeed that all kids deserve.