CHICAGO – DuSable Museum will host a one-night-only concert featuring performances by the incomparable Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago, along with their special guests from Sweden Voices of Unity. This unique partnership between The Soul Children of Chicago and Sweden’s Voices of Unity truly demonstrates the mission behind The Soul Children of Chicago’s mission to reach the nations and inspire people around the world through music. 

On Friday, May 18^th Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago will premiere their latest project, Soul Stories. Soul Stories is a series of webisodes inspired by some of the life-changing circumstances that Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago have witnessed and experienced over the course of their 30-year history. Under the vision and direction of Walt Whitman, Jr. and E-Tre Productions, Soul Stories was created and developed to share inspirations of hope and demonstrate ways today’s youth can conquer life’s challenges and turn adverse situations into stories of hope, triumph and inspiration. 

Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago plan to release Soul Stories both nationally and internationally.  For more information and ways your company can participate in this youth outreach effort, please email soulchildrenmedia@gmail.com.

World renowned and internationally traveled local youth choir based in Englewood selected to perform for global dignitaries and honored guests during annual summit on human rights, peace and individual activist

CHICAGO - The World Summit is internationally recognized as among the most important annual events in the field of peacemaking, attracting hundreds of high-profile leaders and organizations from around the globe. The event is co-chaired by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Hon. Walter Veltroni, the former Mayor of Rome. Mayor Emanuel will serve as the Summit’s honorary co-chair.

The three-day summit, themed “Speak Up, Speak Out for Freedom and Rights” will place a special emphasis on engaging and empowering youth to action through a series of plenary sessions and breakout discussions. Summit organizers have partnered with Chicago Public Schools and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights to connect Nobel Laureates in sharing their powerful stories directly with Chicago students in the classroom.

Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago are honored to participate in the 12^th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. Under the direction of Walt Whitman, Jr., The Soul Children of Chicago have spent their entire 30 year career dedicated to making an international impact around the world. This 60+ member youth choir comprised of Chicago area students ages 7 – 17 have performed in places such as Norway, Sweden, Israel and Nigeria. They recently made history as the first African-American youth choir to tour Italy. It’s not often children from Chicago can say they spent Christmas in Rome as the headlining act for Rome’s Gospel Festival! Most recently, The Soul Children of Chicago experience can be found as part of the DuSable Museum of African American History’s Spread The Word! The Evolution of Gospel from Chicago To The World exhibit.

“Our youth organization strives to make a daily impact in our city and around the world through music. We work with the Soul Children to build character and create servant leaders of integrity in education, family, social responsibility and community. Through The Soul Children of Chicago children from a variety of Chicagoland neighborhoods learn to lead with authenticity, consistently embracing new challenges, promoting peace, happiness and inspiring people all over the world. We’re elated to see the World Summit coming to Chicago at such a critical moment for our city. We must continue to come together and actively promote the message of peace and unity.  We were humbled at the request for participation and are looking forward to being a part of a positive youth and international movement towards a peaceful city and world!”  - Walt Whitman, Jr.

Their sound is powerful, magnetic, inspirational and their reach remains international. As they continue to mature with perfection, they expand their platform to accept the challenge of meeting the spiritual needs of this generation by addressing honest, everyday issues that children, teens, and adults encounter.  Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago most recently released a trailer for their latest webisode project, Soul Stories. The first full episode will be released at their upcoming concert entitled Spread The Word with Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago featuring Voices of Unity a youth gospel choir from Sweden taking place Friday, May 18th at DuSable Museum. For more information visit their website at www.soulchildrenchicago.org.

CHICAGO – After 30 years of hard work and dedication the Grammy and Stellar Award winning Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago organization continue to make an impact in the lives of youth.

In a day and age when youth violence and crime is what seems to receive the most attention, Mr. Whitman has founded and implemented a youth program in the Chicagoland area for the past 30 years that has positively impacted the lives of thousands through music!

This 60+ youth choir’s sound is powerful, inspirational, magnetic, and their reach remains international. As they continue to mature with perfection, they expand their platform to accept the challenge of meeting the needs of this generation by addressing honest, everyday issues that children, teens and adults encounter.

The spiritual and professional discipline of Walt Whitman forms the foundation and reason for the standard of excellence set forth and continuously achieved in every aspect of the Soul Children. Local area youth ages 7 – 17 to become a member of The Soul Children of Chicago. Each student is expected to maintain a grade point average of 2.5, play an active role in their communities and attend practice twice a week in addition to scheduled performances. 

Mr. Whitman not only works to develop each child’s vocal and performance skills, but is dedicated to building character and creating servant leaders of integrity in education, family, social responsibility and community. The Soul Children remain passionate and committed to being the change they desire to create. They lead with integrity, authenticity, consistently embracing new challenges, promoting peace, happiness and inspiring people all over the world!

On Thursday, December 15th, 2011, 18 of the Soul Children of Chicago made history touring Italy as the FIRST African-American Youth Gospel Choir from Chicago! Their tour culminates with two performances at the Gospel Festival of Rome. 

Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago Tour Schedule:

17 December 2011: Turin – Teatro Colosseo (http://www.teatrocolosseo.it/)

20 December 2011: Carpi – Auditorium San Rocco (http://www.fondazionecrcarpi.it/auditorium_rocco.asp_ 

21 December 2011: Lugano – Palazzo dei Congressi (www.luganoinscena.com)

22 December 2011: Genova – Teatro Politeama (www.politeamagenovese.it/)

23 December 2011: Rome – Auditorium Parco della Musica (www.auditorium.com)

24 December 2011: Caserta - Church of the Buon Pastore Christmas Eve Mass at 4pm 

25 December 2011: Rome – Auditorium Parco della Musica (www.auditorium.com)

The remaining 50+ Soul Children will perform their rendition of the National Anthem at the 12/20 Chicago Bulls Preseason game!

“Like” Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago on Facebook.

“Follow” @waltwhitmanjr / @chisoulchildren on Twitter.

The Soul Children of Chicago are a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Soul Children of Chicago CD Release “MY TIME MY FAVOR” now available on iTunes.