The Seattle Theatre Group's ELEVATE program recently showcased the talents of young Black and Brown artists at the historic Neptune Theatre. Among these talented performers was Maya Michelle Russell, a 16-year-old spoken word artist making waves in the Seattle arts scene.

Maya, a four-year ELEVATE veteran, has a passion for creating and performing. Her accomplishments include appearing in the Intiman Theatre's Black Nativity musical, singing the National Anthem for the Seattle Kraken and the Seattle Reign, and winning first place in the Edmonds Center for the Arts We Speak Youth Poetry Competition.

This year, Maya's ELEVATE performance featured a piece titled "Imagining the Future," inspired by her dreams and ambitions. Her powerful words captivated the audience, showcasing her unique perspective and talent.

Maya is also a Starbucks Up Next Artist for the second year running. Fans can catch her next live performance on Wednesday, July 24th, from 4-5 pm at Starbucks SODO Reserve.

ELEVATE provides a platform for young artists like Maya to share their stories and address important issues through spoken word. To learn more about this empowering program, visit stgpresents.org/elevate.

This segment was first aired on Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle. See past episodes and segments at whereweconverge.com/back2besa and on the FOX Local app. Learn how to download app here bit.ly/watchfoxlocal