For Stephanie C. Woodson and The Voices of Unity Choir, it's a "Family Affair," as celebrated artist Sly and the Family Stone popularized in 1971.
Lucine Woodson, Stephanie's mom, was the first in the family to join the Unity Choir as a volunteer. Then came Stephanie's cousins, Bryson Sharp and Andrew Woodson, and Stephanie, now a 10-year choir member.

Stephanie joined the Unity Choir through her mom and Marshall White, the United Performing Arts Foundation and Unity Choir Director/Life Coach. She explained:
"I had known Mr. White as being the Minister of Music of my church at that time, and I heard about the choir from him. The first time I opened my mouth to sing or speak for Mr. White, he told me 'I have something about me.'

From that time, my mother began volunteering for UPAF. I actually became a member of The Voices of Unity Youth Choir AFTER my mother became involved. When she would come home from rehearsals, she would be so on fire about the organization. She encouraged me to visit a rehearsal, and I was immediately HOOKED! I fell in love with the positive atmosphere in which talented children from all over the city were able to share their gifts, learn and grow with one another.
UPAF has created a unique culture which nurtures the creativity, intellect, confidence and leadership skills in today's youth, and equips them to go out into the world and take on life's tasks successfully. This is what drew me to the organization."

A graduate of Bishop Luers High School, Woodson earned a Bachelor of Arts this spring from Nashville's Fisk University. She plans to next pursue a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology on the path to her goal to be Doctor Stephanie Woodson with a doctorate in Psychology. Woodson's life changed in many ways since joining the UPAF organization.

"Since being in UPAF, I have grown and matured in numerous ways. I have started to think more outside of the box, slowly realizing the only boxes or limits are the ones we set for ourselves.
I have become more of a skilled vocalist, as well as a trained professional. I am able to speak with any caliber of individual with confidence because of the lessons learned in UPAF. I have learned the importance of living life phrases: 'Excellence and nothing less' and 'Reach back to give back.'"

"I have gained the confidence to forge my own path of excellence based on the many life lessons the organization has taught me," Woodson said. In forging her own path of excellence, Woodson is planning the path beyond her next college degree to dedicating her career to working with the African-American community in the mental health field. She expressed:

"If I were ever awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, I would want it to be for the extraordinary work I have done in the field of Psychology-especially, within the African- American demographic. So many African Americans and others struggle with mental illnesses, which often go untreated because of the many stigmas held against mental illnesses in our community. I dream of one day building a practice that reaches out to such people, and uses therapeutic techniques that break the medicine-dependent cycle that we see in today's society."
Before the Unity Choir was chosen to be one of five choral groups to represent the United State this summer at the 2010 World Choral Olympics in China, Woodson had traveled as far as West Palm Beach and to the Bahamas as a choir member of Fisk University's student choir. Yet, this next trip to China supersedes these travels in Woodson's world travel book of life. She said:
"This is the most INCREDIBLE opportunity that could be given to any group of young people in the city of Fort Wayne! Not only are we participating in a choral competition for the first time in the history of UPAF, but we are competing on a GLOBAL level.

It proves that great things can, and do come from the city of Fort Wayne! We have the honor of being the face of Fort Wayne, IN. When the world thinks of our city, they will hopefully see us in a positive light because of the endeavors of The Voices of Unity Youth Choir.

Our students will be given the opportunity to tangibly gain a global perspective of how the world around us lives. It will extend our minds beyond Fort Wayne and the United States, something that is lacking in many of the youth of this generation. Hopefully this will fuel us for many more global opportunities. I would encourage all who are willing and able to get involved in any way possible!"

For additional information concerning individuals featured in the Dreams of Gold Highlight Zone, please contact Leigh Roberson, Public Relations Committee Chair – Choir Olympics Task Force, via e-mail at lroberson246@msn.com.