Local bands hold show for Area Youth Services Project

CORRECTION: David Bello and Michael Iafrate will play solo sets, not with their respective bands.

A benefit concert will be held Saturday at 9 p.m. at 123 Pleasant Street. All proceeds will go to supporting the Morgantown Area Youth Services Project.

Performers will include local artists Juna, David Bello, Michael Iafrate, Bonfire and DC's The Common Cold.

Zach Francis, who is helping coordinate the event, is a juvenile counselor in the youth transitions program of the MAYSP, which focuses on eighth, ninth and 10th graders and addresses the risk factors middle school and early high school students face.

Francis described the event as mutually beneficial for both the MAYSP and local artists.

"It's a twofold benefit because the local artists need more recognition," Francis said. "The majority of the bands are from my favorite local acts, and I noticed they were involved in other benefit shows, so I figured why not get a hold of some of my favorite local artists and raise awareness about a good organization that's pretty passionate about what they do."

Francis and the MAYSP chose bands based on their popularity and past performances and decided on 123 Pleasant Street, not only because it has hosted numerous benefit shows, but also because it is a local favorite and draws in a variety of people.

"We wanted the bands that could draw a decent crowd, and some of them are new and I think they deserve exposure to a bigger crowd. I was impressed by where their priorities are," Francis said. "(123 Pleasant Street) is a really great venue and is a good venue for several crowds – a lot of locals who come in there and appreciate it for what it is, and a lot of the student population who have a very eclectic taste and like the different genres."

The MAYSP is a nonprofit agency that provides a multitude of services for local youth and a range of programs addressing substance abuse counseling, tutoring, delinquency intervention and prevention, underage drinking and transitions, among others.

Francis explained the importance of the institution to young people growing up in a college environment like Morgantown.

"It being a campus community, the children are exposed to a lot more," Francis said. "Morgantown is a little more metropolitan as compared to other places in West Virginia, so there are other issues that youth face as opposed to kids in any other town, so I think they face a lot of experimentation with substance abuse and a lot of confusion with mingling and other social problems that wouldn't be of such a high concentration in other towns."

Francis also addressed the unique environment of the MAYSP and described it as more personable and individually oriented as compared to other organizations.

"There is a lot of very passionate involvement with the local youth. They know them by name and they know their personalities, it's not just a rotating door," Francis said. "It seems that there is a different vibe, it's a little bit more personable with the kids while having a communal perspective on things. They like to stay involved with the community but are personal with each juvenile."

In addition to performances, CDS and records will be available throughout the night for a small donation and will be supplied by donations from the MAYSP staff and members of the Morgantown community.

The CDS and records were added to the event as a unique way to raise extra funds, Francis explained.

"We wanted to add some variety and fun, and it is a good way to raise some extra petty cash or provide an extra pizza for some of these kids who are either transient or some of them who don't have a home," Francis said. "Beyond our programs, every bit of extra cash can help buy food for those who are in the programs and those who rely heavily on the place as a refuge to keep themselves out of trouble.

(They see us) as a fortress of safety, they know we're going to encourage their good behavior, and they can get a bite to eat out of it."

The MAYSP benefit concert is Saturday at 9 p.m. at 123 Pleasant Street. Admission is $5.

To provide CDs or records to the donation table, please call 304-284-7321.

For more information on the MAYSP and its services, please visit http://maysp.cfsites.org/