Fundraiser Play Aims To Prevent Closure Of Wilmington Youth Program

The Stop the Violence Prayer Chain Foundation has launched a fundraiser in the form of a Gospel stage play titled “Stubborn Is As Stubborn Does”. (Photo courtesy of Margaret Guy)

A Wilmington youth center that serves at-risk children and teens is fighting to keep its doors open this summer—and it’s turning to the stage to raise critical funds.

The Stop the Violence Prayer Chain Foundation’s Children’s Community Center, which serves youth in Wilmington, New Castle, and surrounding areas, has launched a fundraiser in the form of a Gospel stage play titled “Stubborn Is As Stubborn Does”.

“We’re doing it to raise funds for our community center,” said Pastor Margaret Guy, founder of Stop the Violence Prayer Chain Foundation.

“Since a lot of the federal funding has stopped, we’re going out and trying to do fundraisers to make sure we’re able to keep our community center open,” she said.

The play blends drama and comedy while addressing real-life issues such as gun violence, drug and alcohol addiction, and family neglect.

“It’s about a mother who’s very neglectful, deceitful, and she’s on drugs and alcohol,” said Guy. “It covers a lot of different things too.”

The center works with children who are low-income or have lost loved ones to gun or domestic violence. It also offers creative outlets like theater as part of its youth programming.

Wilmington teenagers Jakai Carter and Justin Died are featured in the play’s cast.

“As we’re out here acting, we’re speaking louder than our words,” said Died.

Shinae’Ja Gonzalez Cooper, a teen pastor and youth leader involved with the center, explained how the center has impacted her.

“This is a place where we learn new things and stay out of trouble,” she said. “It keeps us off the streets, away from drugs, and from doing a lot of the things other kids are getting into.”

Justin Dye, Shinaeja Gonzalez-Cooper, and Jekhi Carter, teens casted in “Stubborn is as Stubborn Does,” debuting on Sunday, July 20.

Guy emphasized how much the performing arts mean to the teens involved.

“They’re teenagers, and this is something that they really love to do, and it keeps them positive, keeps them off the street,” she said. “We try to do that in the community center, and we allow them to put God first—and that way it keeps them focused.”

While the upcoming show is in Philadelphia, the group recently staged another production—Property of God—in Wilmington. Guy, who previously lived in Philadelphia, said she chose the venue because of family ties, including her cousin Bishop J. Darrell Robinson, the presiding pastor of Yesha Ministries.

The play will be performed in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 20, at 4:00 p.m. at Yesha Ministries Worship Center.