Deaf Arts Jubilee kicks off

Rosette Gonzales

When his daughter Jenna was 2, Bill Greene discovered she was deaf.

Over time he became familiar with her silent world and decided to

liven it up for her and other deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Greene started the Greenelight Foundation, an organization

dedicated to enhancing the lives of disabled and disadvantaged

children. For the past four years, the Deaf Arts Jubilee has been the

foundation’s major yearly event, bringing more than 100 students from

Southern California and Las Vegas high schools together.

The event happening today at David Starr Jordan Middle School is

an all-day festival that celebrates arts and entertainment, something

hearing-impaired students don’t always get to enjoy, Greene said. The

students start the day at 9 a.m. with breakfast, and then attend a

series of workshops in dance, storytelling, makeup artistry, acting,

animation and magic. Many of the workshops are taught by

hearing-impaired professionals, Greene said.

“It’s a fun day, but it’s also a day of exposure to these things

they might want to do,” Greene said.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals don’t often consider career

options in the arts because of their disability, Greene said, but the

Deaf Arts Jubilee introduces them to deaf and hard-of-hearing adults

working in arts and entertainment.

“Here, there’s deaf adults out there, and they’re doing things

hearing kids do, and they’re making a living at it,” he said.

A music band at a deaf event might seem unusual, but the lead

singer of the group, Kriya, does sign language along with her vocals.

Well-known deaf comedian C.J. Jones will headline the evening, which

ends around 9 p.m.

“It’s a chance for deaf kids to get together for something other

than school,” said Scott Shapiro, who attended the festival last year

with his 19-year-old brother Mike, who is deaf.

The two enjoyed acting in a comedic skit onstage with other

students, and Scott, 16, especially liked the makeup workshops, which

made his neck look like it had been slit with a knife, he said.

“Every kid will have their favorite thing,” Greene said.