Arts & Entertainment

'Teens on the Green' Concert Showcases Young, Local Talent

The City of Palo Alto's Twilight Concert Series wrapped up Saturday night with 'Teens on the Green,' featuring local teens performing original music.

A crowd of hundreds turned out for the final installment of the City's Twilight concert series at Mitchell Park on Saturday night.

For the second year in a row, the final concert was named "Teens on the Green," and featured all local teens, performing original music.

Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa welcomed the crowd and introduced the first band of the night.

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Many teen-focused groups have praised Teens on the Green as being an excellent way to show support for local children, and to help build "developmental assets," which the local school district has named a priority since on what helps teens to thrive was released earlier this year.

During the concert, Becky Beacom from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and representatives from the nonprofit group Break Through the Static, which talks to teens about suicide, spoke to the audience as well. Break Through the Static was on hand during the concert signing up students for its Teen Advisory Board.

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Linda Lenoir, district nurse for the Palo Alto Unified School District, spoke about how powerful events like Teens on the Green can be for the students involved, and the adults that want to support them.

"Music is an expression of their true voices, and this is one way for that voice to be heard," she explained. "It's about reaching out to each other, and connecting with each other."

Lenoir said the Youth Collaborative, which includes members from several local groups that work to support children and build developmental assets, such as the YMCA, the Media Center, the Red Cross and many more, is currently in talks with local businesses like coffee shops to try and have a teen music night once a month in town.

"We had a great turnout tonight, and I hope more people realize how important it is to turn out for events like this and support our talented kids," said Beacom.


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