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Big Nazo, Mentoring and Entertaining
 By Patti Getchell, 10th Grade - Liberty
I had the opportunity to attend an awesome show from Big Nazo in the Black Box on the Public Street Campus, the first show of many to celebrate and get kids more involved in the arts. Big Nazo specializes in large, deformed-looking puppets with big noses and dragging arms, some equipped to change from an alien to a dog to another alien. Inside are actors ready to dance around and act as crazy as they look, even running into the audience and giving people a little shock of interaction.
But while these larger-than-life puppets entertained us with upbeat music, song, dance, jokes and a possible broken microphone, there was an underlying message. They showed us that dance and art can be used as a means to break down communication barriers from one culture to the next, in this case from one planet to the next. And they really tried to teach kids to accept new friends, even if they might be different or a little "weird". Some students were called up to participate in activities, got to dress as aliens with Nazo masks and odd body parts and dance around on stage, much to the enjoyment of their friends and classmates. "I loved everything about the show," says Lisa Kollie, a Liberty sophomore who participated in both showings, "especially the dancing!" Many students, when they first got up, were reluctant to dance, but the instructor encouraged them to "not worry about 'fitting in' or being 'normal' and just be yourself."
Another Liberty gateway student, Kattiana Theodore, said that she thinks "that they should do more shows like this because it exposes us to new types of art, and if we get more interested in them, it can broaden our horizons, so to speak." Keep an eye out for more shows like this one coming to the Met. |
| Big Nazo Labs has been a MET mentor for almost as long as the MET has been open. Students have learned how to build puppets, perform as part of the troop, and be part of the Big Nazo creative team. We would like to thank Big Nazo for their continued support and for helping expose our kids to diverse forms of art. |
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LTI Project Showcase
Do the Robot
Rob, of Michelle Portilla's sophomore advisory in Liberty, takes advantage of the LTI opportunities in his own building, working with Russell McClarnon, a Microsoft employee trainer turned mentor, and a few other students in the program to build a computer and special software that will control a robotic arm, which they will also be building. When they're done, they're going to be competing in a statewide robotics competition.
Keep 'em Rolling
 Alongside his mentor Robert McDonald at the Providence Fire Department, repair division, Sal is directly involved in the maintenance and repair of the fire trucks. His project focuses on the gas engine. He is learning to name all of the mechanical components of the engine and how to describe how a gas engine operates.
Law and Order
 Unity senior, Karina, currently interns at the District 9 substation of the Providence Police Department, where she works with her mentor, Lieutenant Ryan. Karina's LTI project, which is also going to be her STP, is to have a peace march from the main police station off of Westminster St all of the way back to the quad here at Public St. Here marchers (a congregation of community members, organizations, and police officers) will eat and enjoy a job well done.
Go Speed Racer
 Luis of Nathan Bonneau's advisory in Justice spends his internship days at Edgewood Services. His project stretched from over the summer, when he worked with them to rebuild a go cart engine. Luis bought the pieces he needed with a student opportunities grant from his building. Currently, he is working on the engine and finding the right size valves and go cart string. When all the pieces are complete, Luis will be presenting his hard work at a Pick Me Up in Justice. |
