KUSD’s African American Youth Initiative students were celebrated and inspired through the annual spring luncheon held at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. AAYI school leads and community professionals present gave the young ladies words of encouragement, Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha Youth of the Year and Harborside Academy student Kayla Mitchell presented a poem, and the keynote address was given by America’s Black Holocaust Museum COO and Powher Network founder Chauntel McKenzie. Each girl also was crowned a queen and empowered with an “I am” statement printed on their shirts created for the event.