Inner City Program Gets $5,000 Boost from CUES

MADISON, Wis.-CUES has donated $5,000 to Rafe Esquith’s Hobart Shakespeareans, a program developed to improve the lives of children of Hobart Elementary School in central Los Angeles. According to Esquith, a combination of Shakespeare, rock and roll music, and long hours in the classroom help kids find success. In addition, the Hobart Shakespeareans have performed at Shakespeare festivals throughout the U.S. Esquith’s classroom not only protects the students from drugs and violence, many of his students return on Saturdays to prepare for college, resulting in a top 10% or higher placement on national test scores. “I started the Hobart Shakespeareans to give economically disadvantaged children an equal opportunity. I’m just an ordinary man trying to help level the playing field. I want to give my students that equal opportunity to earn their share of the American Dream,” said Esquith.