When I received this picture from Pillsbury House Theatre, I was immediately drawn in by her broad smile and open arms. At the Americans for the Arts Conference United Arts Funds sessions in May, people wanted to know more about this young lady. So, here is the story behind the picture:

The young woman is 10-year-old Cheyenne Eggleston. In 2005, Cheyenne took Chicago Avenue Project classes at Waite House, one of the Pillsbury United Communties sites located in the Phillips Neighborhood of Minneapolis. She was an eager learner, a gifted performer, and a bright light in the class. She performed at the spring festival in a play written to showcase her talent. Cheyenne brought the house down when she sang. Her character, an old washed-out movie star, rose up in the end to teach her mailperson how to really sing. Dressed in a red satin housecoat with a feather boa around her neck, Cheyenne captured the audience. With the spotlight bright on her face, she sang, "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no mountain low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you, babe." She broke character to show her joy with what she had done.

Cheyenne and her family moved to another suburb and no longer attended Waite House community activities. For the Best of Chicago Avenue Project in February of 2006, Cheyenne was reunited with her friends from Waite House. Cheyenne is always ready to perform. Her mother stated in an interview that the Chicago Avenue Project "gives her [daughter] character; she gets to express herself and we get a chance to see who she really is."