PRODUCERS
Progressive Achievers
Progressive Achievers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls and women to live boldly, lead confidently, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. We serve girls and young women ages 6 to 25, with a focus on those from underserved and culturally diverse backgrounds. Through mentorship, leadership development, life skills training, and creative expression, we help them discover their potential, develop critical skills, and build the confidence to rise. Over the past six years, we have graduated more than 1,500 participants, trained over 300 mentors, and launched five active chapters.
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SoundMind Publishing
Sound Mind Publishing is a company that creates works to enhance the mind of others while highly entertaining them. Sound Mind Publishing has been in existence since 2020 in partnership with Dream House Theater putting on such works as the Amen Corner by James Baldwin and Blues For An Alabama Sky by Pearle Cleage. While it has been a pleasure to write and perform for the community of Plainfield and the surrounding cities with original one act plays, spoken word, Juneteenth events, open mic’s, short films and the like, Sound Mind Publishing will now be partnering with Progressive Achievers for the gospel stage play I Want What I Want in the Spring of 2026. Progressive Achievers will lead the 10 chosen youth in their awesome experience being a part of a big production while Tasha Vaughn who is creator of Sound Mind Publishing will be the executive producer of I Want What I Want. Tasha Vaughn has been performing in plays like The Marvin Gaye Story, Beauty Is In The Eyes of The Beholder and A Raisin In The Sun since 1994, and has written plays for churches like Ruth Fellowship called The Divine Message in 2016 to short films like Dad I Need You and Care To Understand to Children's books that teach seeking the real super hero in one’s ownself. Tasha Vaughn has also worked alongside Creative Visions, founder Michael G. Mitchell providing acting workshops free to the communities with teachers like Patrick Coker, who is known for Heroin, East New York and Moves We Make. Awards: 2 wins & 1 nomination, to Bobby Yan an eight-time Emmy Award winner, veteran of the television and music video industry to Marc John Jefferies, to name a few.
Vision
For generations, the performing arts have been a catalyst for expanding horizons, instilling professionalism, and inspiring countless talented individuals to achieve their dreams. Progressive Achievers, in partnership with SoundMind Publishing, is proud to present the gospel stage play I Want What I Want — a full-scale production featuring a live band and professional filming.
As part of this unique initiative, we are launching the program SEE2BELIEVE where we will select 10 exceptional upper high school male and female students from the Newark Public School District to participate in every stage of the production. These students will gain hands-on experience by working side-by-side with seasoned professionals, learning some skills, discipline, and artistry required to bring a high-caliber production to life. As the saying goes, “If you can see it, you can believe it — and if you believe it, you can achieve it.” This is the inspiration we aim to give.
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Thank you to Urban League of Newark for helping sponsor the program SEE2BELIEVE.
