Steven Long wrote a script called GANGSTAS, which is about a corporate street gang in Chicago and the importance of youth making right choices in bad neighborhoods. Part of his outreach has been with staffs of youth social service agencies, two of which are solidly behind supporting the script. One is GRIP Outreach for Youth and the other, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. It is important to note that both organizations said they see the benefits of the script to help at-risk youth. Mercy Home for Boys and Girls has agreed to host the reading in as the Gangstas script has been read and affirmed by key staff members who see it's accuracy and relevancy. Mentors from GRIP will be reading characters in the script such as Dr. Ulysses Burley who travels the world with the Lutheran Church on HIV/Social Justice issues, and Babatunde Oshinowo, a former Chicago Bear who is an active mentor at GRIP Youth Services. Alongside a host of young talented artists including Booker Vance, Kenwood Academy Senior and National Finalist in the August Wilson Monologue Competition. The reading will be at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 W Jackson, on the evening of Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7pm. For more information regarding the script, please contact Steven Long at gangstas2010@gmail.com