RBR Sophomore Model Representative for Black Girls Rock

Story written by Patch Editor Peter Schaus

Red Bank Regional sophomore Lynese Rawlins is an extremely poised, articulate young lady who delved into her new suburban school life with great zeal when she moved from NYC to Red Bank over a year ago. She ran and won the presidency to her sophomore class and became captain of her JV Cheerleading squad. As an RBR Visual and Performing Art student, she decided to become a drama major, although she also loves to sing and dance. She is a member of the RBR Fashion Club and dance team. Lynese Rawlins also has an unusual skill to add to her resume, one that brings her back to the city each weekend. Lynese mixes music as a DJ, an art form she learned and continues to perfect through her four year association with Black Girls Rock (BGR). In fact, Lynese recently made the publicity circuit with her mentor, famous DJ Beverly Bonds, and was interviewed with Ms Bonds on MY Fox News. Beverly Bonds founded the non-profit organization Black Girls Rock, which attempts to promote self esteem and self worth in black girls, ages 14 to 17. 

The Black Girls Rock website states that the organization was created to combat problems facing young women of color. It gives its participants live enrichment opportunities through mentorship, arts education, cultural exploration and public service. Learning to be a DJ is learning an art form which requires discipline and multitasking—skills applicable for future life success. Successful black women role models also mentor young ladies in other aspects of the arts.

Lynese was introduced to BGR four years ago, at the program's inception, when she was attending a very small Brooklyn charter school. The program had advertized in school districts throughout the city school system. In addition to learning how to DJ, she explored different world cultures and cuisines in the Taste of the World part of the program, which brought the young ladies to sample some of New York City's amazing ethnic restaurants. In a third program category called I Rhyme in Mine, Lynese wrote her own songs and poetry which she performed at the Black Girls Rock Award Show under the tutelage of poet Toni Blackman and performing artist Lyricspct. The Black Girls Rock Award Show was created to honor the achievements of other black women and also to showcase these accomplished women to young girls to see what they could do and become.

She comments, "These were women who all made a significant contribution and were excellent role models to the girls. I especially connected with Keke Palmer, who was everything I aspire to be--- a singer, dancer and movie actress and star performer in her own hit TV show. I know that could be me someday."

Although she moved to the suburbs, Lynese continues her affiliation with BGR. She practices her DJ skills at the DJ Scratch Academy on the weekends, in Greenwich Village, where she learned the basics of a being a DJ. Lynese explains that this would include scratching (the delicate needle placement on vinyl to start a record) the proper mixing of songs, which requires adjustments with pitch and tempo, and looping back and forth between songs. She was also encouraged to explore a diversity of music including hip hop, and something she calls "Old School' which features artists like Whitney Houston and Brian McKnight. Her favorite music genre, however, is Rhythm and Blues. Lynese uses her skills in community service every Sunday when she returns to her community church in East New York to DJ gospel songs.

In essence, Lynese has become a creature of two worlds, urban and suburban and believes she enjoys the best of both. New York City provides her weekend cultural classroom. RBR, a high school 10 times the size of her 120 person charter school, offers a wide array of sports and clubs, but is unique in its opportunities to concentrate study in the performing arts.

Lynese, who had to travel throughout NYC for after school activities in middle school explains, "I really like it here (at RBR) there is always so much going on. You can stay after school and there is always something to do. You don't need to do things that could get you in trouble."

One of her favorite teachers, Spanish teacher Lisa Olds states of Lynese, "Lynese is helpful, caring, kind, and above all fun! She is not afraid to stand up for what is right. She is a pleasant, wonderful spirit who is a go-getter and truly I am proud to know her and have her in class. I feel that she is ambitious enough to do whatever she sets her mind to do- she's awesome!"

On the Black Girls Rock affect on her life, Lynese avers, "I was always a very strong person, but my experiences with Black Girls Rock only increased that quality. It gave me confidence in the way you walk, talk and even dress. Young girls learn that they don't have to wear revealing clothing to feel good about themselves."

Lynese intends to follow her dream to become a singer, dancer, and actress like Keke Palmer, but she also has a back-up plan of attending Harvard and becoming a lawyer. Both should be attainable goals for such a confident and talented young lady.