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PESA’s sister organization Future Leader California and The Justice Sunday Arts Initiative recently hosted a gala to honor the hard work and dedication of students who participated in this year’s production. Justice Sunday, an annual theatrical performance held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, highlights Black history and important stories often overlooked. The initiative brings students together to create a meaningful production while fostering leadership, teamwork, and artistic expression.
The gala, which took place at the American Heroes Park Event Center, served as a celebration of the students’ dedication. Valeria Sanchez Medina, President of the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative, described the event as a way to “reward the students who participated in Justice Sunday, to give them a reward for their hard work, their dedication that they put in during their winter break.” “We did a glow-in-the-dark theme that matched the vibe of our flyer of our show. It was just a fun event for our students to feel rewarded and for us to give back to them.”
Approximately 40 to 50 students attended the celebration, which was filled with engaging activities. The night kicked off with a welcome speech from Sanchez Medina, followed by a dinner featuring pasta options, cookies, and drinks. The itinerary included rounds of trivia, multiple award presentations, and a bingo game. The students even organized their own awards ceremony to thank the volunteers and alumni who helped them in the production before wrapping up the evening with music and dancing.
Sanchez Medina reflected on the joy of seeing students reconnect and celebrate their shared experience. “For me, it was just seeing the kids join together again, seeing all the friendships, seeing them have fun,” she said. “They were dancing, they were singing, we played games, we gave out awards. It was just a very fun event overall.”
Justice Sunday recruits high school students from across the Antelope Valley, including Lancaster High School, Eastside High School, and SOAR Prep. These students dedicate their winter break to crafting a play from scratch, culminating in performances at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center and the Palmdale Playhouse.
Sanchez Medina emphasized the importance of creating spaces like Justice Sunday and its accompanying events. “It’s important for them to feel like we recognize the hard work and the three weeks they took to put this play together,” she said. “It also gives the kids a sense of community, friends, and mentors to guide them through high school and even their college journey.”
Through Justice Sunday and celebrations like the gala, young people are given opportunities to connect, create, and grow—ensuring that their voices and contributions are both recognized and valued.
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