[July 14, 2011] Lifted Mind: Teen group offers fun activities Tweet Jul 14, 2011 (El Paso Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tired of staying in and going to house parties? A group of Hanks High School students and alumni want to offer safe, fun alternative entertainment options for teens. "It spawned out of our own boredom and frustration with the kind of (summer) lull here," graduate Anthony Escajeda said. "Since its inception, it's been about bringing something new to El Paso." About 20 theater students compose the group, Lifted Mind. Senior Frank Cabral leads the group's activities. "I wanted to get out there and do something besides party," Cabral said. "I had just moved from Las Vegas and there's a lot to do out there, improv groups, entertainment, and I wanted to offer that here. I wanted to do events that would bring everyone together." The group's formation was further enhanced after the theater class took a trip to San Antonio. "There we saw an improv act while we were eating dinner," Escajeda said. "And they were great so we wanted to do something like that here, too." The first show, though small, was at La Condesa Restaurant, 3512 N. Yarbrough. "We were able to get the guests involved," he said. "The show is completely on the spot, and we try to make it very interactive. In one part, we tell a story and we ask for volunteers to make noises for certain parts." Since their its show in June, the group recently performed at Buchanan's Event Center, 11540 Pellicano. Besides improv, the group has dodgeball fights and movie nights, and it plans to have a large water balloon fight. Activities are paid for from entrance fees collected from improv nights at La Condesa and through Cabral's own funds. "The idea was never to keep the money for ourselves," Cabral said. "Instead, we use it for snacks and supplies for other events. We don't want people to just come to our events; we want to inspire them to do the same e to get away from the routine." Although the group is composed primarily of Hanks High School students, Cabral said, it welcomes anyone interested in participating. "At our age and for others in our age demographic, it seems like they like to stick to the routine of partying and hanging out," senior Rene Carbahal said. "And that makes you creatively stagnant, I think. This provides a loophole around that." Despite the positive feedback, the group's future is uncertain. Because Lifted Mind primarily consists of recent Hanks graduates and seniors, Cabral is unsure whether he will continue to lead the effort. "I definitely want to continue it during the school year," he said. "But there are a lot of us that are leaving for college in August. "I just hope that if people enjoy doing this, it will inspire them to pick it up on their own and carry this on." Learn more -- For more information or to view Lifted Mind's next event: visit www.facebook.com/liftedmind. To see more of the El Paso Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.elpasotimes.com. Copyright (c) 2011, El Paso Times, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]