The annual PbS Kids Got Talent Contest was established in 2015 to celebrate and showcase the creative talents of young people in participating correction, detention, assessment and community residential programs.nThis year, PbS received over 55 entries from 63 young people in 22 different facilities—and wow, what an impressive group of applicants! After careful review and consideration, the internal PbS Committee selected 12 inspiring and deserving performances as finalists.nThe finalists include (anonymous to respect and protect privacy):nnAn original spoken word poem from Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center, Oklahoma Office of Juvenile AffairsnA solo vocal original “Need None” from Copper Lake/Lincoln Hills School, Wisconsin Division of Juvenile CorrectionsnA duo original song “In The Night” from Copper Lake/Lincoln Hills School, Wisconsin Division of Juvenile CorrectionsnA solo original song from Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility, (Oregon) Multnomah County Department of Community JusticenA group original song “Make A Change” from Ferris School, Delaware Youth Rehabilitative Services DivisionnA duo performing an original song called “Bruddas” from Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, Hawaii Office of Youth ServicesnA cover of Mary J. Blige’s hit “No More Drama” from IYC Warrenville, Illinois Department of Juvenile JusticenA solo artist performing “I Am The Future”, a vocal original song from Long Creek Youth Development Center, Maine Department of CorrectionsnA visual art and vocal original song from Long Creek Youth Development Center, Maine Department of CorrectionsnA group dance from Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center, Philadelphia Department of Human Services nA solo artist vocal original “Leave A Message” from Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility, Oregon Youth Authority nAn original group vocal performance from Stevenson House Detention Center, Delaware Youth Rehabilitation Services Division nnCongratulations to all the talented finalists, and we look forward to spotlighting each performance on the blog over the coming weeks. Thank you to the staff who supported young people throughout this process. We appreciate your encouragement and dedication.nAs always, thank you to our Selection Panel for their time and invaluable input:nnChyrl Jones, Deputy Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency PreventionnMarc Schindler, Executive Director, Justice Policy InstitutenNaomi Evans, Executive Director, Coalition for Juvenile JusticenPatrick Griffin, Senior Program Officer, Criminal Justice MacArthur Foundation
