Since its inception in 2015, the Center for Improving Youth Justice’s Kids Got Talent Contest has been a platform where young people in confined residential programs can showcase their incredible talents. This contest not only highlights their skills but also provides them with an opportunity to shine beyond their circumstances. This year we had 48 talented young people compete from 7 states and 9 facilities sharing their best song writing, singing, rapping, spoken word, instrumentals and art. Let’s meet the outstanding finalists of the 2024 CIYJ Kids Got Talent Contest, each bringing their unique flair and passion to the stage.
Finalists:
Ariel – Maricopa Juvenile Detention, Talent: Spoken Word and Signing
Ariel captivates with a powerful spoken word performance combined with expressive signing. Her ability to convey deep emotions through her words and gestures is truly remarkable, making her a standout contestant this year.
Drevontae – Indian River Juvenile Correctional, Talent: Rapping
Drevontae’s dynamic rapping skills showcase his lyrical prowess and storytelling ability. His performance is about rhythm and rhyme but also about conveying powerful messages through his words.
Benny – Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center, Talent: Drum Solo
Benny’s instrumental performance demonstrates his creativity and ability to utilize improvisation after just recently having begun playing the drums. His ability to evoke emotions through his playing is mesmerizing, earning him a spot among the finalists.
Shanteyja – KJCC (West) Female, Talent: Spoken Word
Shanteyja’s spoken word performance is powerful and evocative. Her ability to weave words into a compelling narrative captivates and leaves a lasting impression, showcasing her talent for storytelling.
Nigel – Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center, Talent: Playing Piano
Nigel’s instrumental creativity shines through with this performance, offering a new and unique take on piano playing utilizing only the black keys. His ability to connect with his music is shown from start to finish.
Devon and Coryeion – Maricopa Juvenile Detention, Talent: Rapping and Playing Guitar
Devon and Coryeion bring their unique styles together in an original rapping, energetic and thought-provoking performance. Their synergy on camera is a testament to their dedication and hard work.
Catrelle, Cal, Joelyn, K’Leon, Davion, Kaden, Seven and Shamir – Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex, Talent: Dancing
This dynamic group from the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex dazzles with the creativity of their dance routine. Their choreography and synchronization reflect the joy and fun that the group collectively had bringing this piece to the contest.
MB – Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex, Talent: Playing Trumpet
MB’s instrumental performance showcases his innovation and passion for trumpet. His vision for this solo allowed his artistry to shine through.
Jamarion – Lincoln Hills School, Talent: Original Song
Jamarion’s singing talent is a testament to his vocal ability and emotional expression through song. His performance is heartfelt and soulful, leaving a lasting impact on anyone who hears him or sees the original video.
Group Winner:
Jerbari, Andrew and Kahsim – Ferris School for Boys, Talent: Rapping
This talented trio brings an energetic, cohesive rapping performance highlighting their chemistry and individual talents. Their collaboration is a testament to teamwork and creativity, making their act a memorable one that involved many others from the facility.
Solo Winners:
Brodey – Maricopa Juvenile Detention, Talent: Singing and Playing Guitar
Brodey impresses with his dual talent in singing and playing guitar. His harmonious blend of vocals and instrumentation creates a rich, captivating performance that resonates.
Luis – Lincoln Hills School, Talent: Original Rap
Luis brings a fresh and authentic voice to the competition with his rapping talent. His original lyrics and provocative delivery reflect his personal experiences and emotions, making his performance both relatable and impactful.
Celebrating Talent and Resilience
The CIYJ Kids Got Talent Contest is more than just a talent show – it is a celebration of resilience, creativity and the boundless potential of young people. These finalists have honed their skills and found a way to express themselves and share their stories. Each year we invite the winner of our CIYJ Kids Got Talent Competition to perform live at our annual gala. This is an incredible opportunity for the winner to showcase their talent and also promote the Kids Got Talent competition to a wider audience! We eagerly await the gala in August and look forward to the inspiration this year’s winners will undoubtedly bring to our annual national award ceremony night.
If you’re interested in supporting our Kids Got Talent competition you can do so here. For more information on sponsorship opportunities for our annual gala reach out to our Director of Development, Hayden Blood at hblood@improvingyouthjustice.org.