L-R: Youth One Studio founder/owners Reggie Parson and Marcus Gaskin.
Photo by Youth One Studio.
Reggie Parson and Marcus Gaskin opened Youth One Studio in West Palm Beach in September 2020 in part to start an enrichment program teaching kids all aspects of multimedia arts.
On Nov. 12, the two will further give back to the community by hosting their first Basketball Turkey Shootout at Gaines Park in West Palm Beach.
The free event will include individual and family basketball free-throw and three-point shooting contests inside the Gaines Park gymnasium, plus a turkey sack race and turkey egg hunt outdoors on the lawn.
Participants must pre-register for each event. Winners receive a turkey and trimmings basket, and the first 100 to register in person get a free turkey.
“The family basketball shooting contests will involve a child and an adult relative,” Parson says, “with each getting five shots. And everyone who registers will receive a food ticket for their choice of a free burger or hot dog with chips and a drink and a raffle ticket for a $25 Walmart gift card. We’ll have red wristbands for everyone who registers to participate in an event and green wristbands for those who just want to register for a free turkey.”
The 45-year-old Parson is a Riviera Beach native who attended Dwyer High in Palm Beach Gardens. Gaskin, 40, attended Palm Beach Lakes High in West Palm Beach.
“Marcus’ dad was in the military, so he was actually born in Hawaii but grew up in Riviera Beach,” Parson says.
“We opened Youth One Studio to provide a range of services,” Parson says. “I’m a freelance graphic designer and one of the instructors for our three-month youth enrichment program, which teaches kids the basics of multiple mediums. It’s a push start for young people interested in things like photography, music or design but who otherwise don’t know where to get started.”
Youth One opened in the teeth of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating obstacles for Parson and Gaskin, but navigating them has strengthened their resolve. The two used their experience as recording artists to launch the studio and to teach kids and in the process became students themselves.
“We have a recording room and offer photography and cinematography services as well,” Parson says. “Most of our clients are musical acts, and Marcus and I run their recording sessions. We initially tried to hire sound engineers but eventually learned how to record, engineer and produce through instructional YouTube videos and advice from friends in the business.”
The duo raised awareness of the studio and its programs by participating in Juneteenth and back-to-school events, and they hope the Basketball Turkey Shootout becomes a tradition. The event is scheduled 12 days before Thanksgiving to avoid conflicting with the popular Florida Classic football game Nov. 19 in Orlando between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman.
“With this being our first Thanksgiving event,” Gaskin says, “we are hoping to make it a huge success, as we want it to become an annual event for the people of the community. We do have other events and collaborations we are considering for the upcoming new year.”
“This is a great opportunity for us,” Parson adds. “This will be a great day for all, young and old, to come out and have fun, get a bite to eat, listen to music and shoot some hoops.”
In-person, same-day registration for the Basketball Turkey Shootout runs from 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 12, with all events beginning at noon, at Gaines Park, 1501 N. Australian Ave., West Palm Beach. For further information, call 561-614-9259, or visit www.youthonestudio.com.
Bình luận