Special to Texas Metro News
Kids Acting With Purpose’s production of “Harriet Tubman: Take My Hand and Follow Me” is a perfect Juneteenth weekend event for anyone looking for a way to honor the resilience of African Americans in America. ShaVonne Davis is a resilient theater teaching artist from Fort Worth whose youth acting troupe continues to excel. This year’s summer program doubles as an after-school literacy program. Tarrant County literacy hovered below 43% and Davis is working hard to combat this disparity, especially in underserved communities.
In January, Davis received a Challenge America grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. Last month, it was officially rescinded because of their new grant guidelines. Davis’ hopes were dashed until other professionals in the arts community in North Texas came to the rescue. A Dallas theater teaching artist shared Davis’ plight and donations poured in from all over the country. Even Ryan Michelle Bathe got involved and shared the video on TikTok.
With her summer program now funded, Davis turned her sights to completing the summer and upcoming winter productions. There are two performances of “Harriet Tubman: Take My Hand and Follow Me” Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Each performance is only about an hour long. Several 2025 graduates are moving on to study theatre and music performance from Davis’ program, a true testament to the impact of her service to her beloved community.
