After finishing her second year at North Carolina A&T, Zuri Yearwood is hitting the ground running this summer, establishing her mark in Chicago as a name to be remembered. If the From The ‘Go co-founder isn’t doing an interview to promote the festival, she’s working hard with sponsorship for this year’s big day — Saturday, July 27th.
As a business management major with a concentration in entrepreneurship and innovation, Yearwood is taking the necessary steps to get better in a field that seems like a natural fit. At the True Star headquarters she recalls the beginnings of the festival.
“From The ‘Go Fest was created by me and my best friend Xiah Bryant back in August 2021,” says Yearwood. “We just wanted to create a space for Chicago youth creatives to celebrate their talents, honor their perspectives, and just promote unity among the city.”
Highlighting the fourth year of production, the festival has been positively developing with the increasing number of attendees, different forms of promotion, and the way that the artists are being found. “This year in particular, we started a new thing where we do an open mic throughout the year so we can find local talent in Chicago,” Yearwood says. “Hopefully as the years go by, we find more creative ways to access our local talent.”
During the interview, Yearwood puts emphasis on how the creation of From The ‘Go has ultimately been a way for her to give back to the community. The festival has always been free, giving opportunities for young people to have a positive outlet, along with shining light on other entrepreneurs, artists, and POC owned businesses.
Various sponsors such as Metropolitan Peace Initiatives and Sparkling Ice have aided in investing into From The ‘Go. Events like these come from curious and intelligent students like Yearwood, truly embodying the importance behind True Star’s programs. “I am a creative at heart,” Yearwood explains. “That is the only way I know how to give back to my community.” From The ‘Go has arguably served as a major catalyst to the progression of True Star, ultimately showing how providing opportunities to inspired youth can cause a chain reaction of success.
“I hope to be a jumping point for their careers, and allow them to create community… As well as Chicago as a whole.”
Remember, July 27th is the From The ‘Go Fest, taking place on the DuSable Museum campus from 1:00 pm-7:00 pm. Make sure to get your festival passes on Eventbrite ASAP! Don’t miss the festival of the summer.
Click below to watch the full interview.
By Jada Strong, Junior, Kenwood Academy HS | Insta/Twitter: @JadaStrongg
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