Illinois Senator, Barack Obama, surprised Keyana Ray, with a letter of congratulations for winning the Scenarios USA/Rap It Up story and scriptwriting contest. Senator Obama's office presented Keyana with the letter at a Maywood, IL, Keyana's hometown, board meeting on October 17th 2006.

You can read the letter HERE

Ray’s story was selected from almost 500 submissions written by young people ages 13 to 18 across the country. Her story is a dramatic urban tale about three young women who must navigate the path towards adulthood in a world where HIV infection, violence, and drug abuse are the norm. Through these obstacles, the young women manage to create strong and long lasting bonds with each other and with members of their families.

Ray collaborated with Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (Get on the Bus) to develop and revise her story into a shooting script. Prince-Bythewood is directing the film in Ray’s hometown. The film is being produced by Billy Higgins (Proof; Ali) and Zoë Borys (Panavision, Chicago and Toronto). Ray is involved in every step of production, from casting and location scouting, to choosing music, and the final edit. Scenarios USA sponsored mentorship opportunities for dozens of local youth in Maywood to work with the professional crew on the film set.

Background:
Scenarios USA teamed up with Rap-It-Up, the award winning HIV/AIDS public education initiative partnership of BET and the Kaiser Family Foundation, to conduct the “What’s the REAL DEAL on Growing Up in the Age of AIDS?” national story and scriptwriting contest. The contest encouraged young people ages 13 to 18 to write about what HIV/AIDS means to them personally, and to their friends, family, and communities. The submission deadline was June 13, 2006, and the short film will premiere on BET in February 2007.

2006 marks the 25th year since the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention introduced the world to the disease that became know as HIV/AIDS. This competition offered the first generation born in the era of AIDS the opportunity to provide perspective and make a statement about the epidemic. The contest received financial support from The Ford Foundation.