By Akhila Kolisetty The Daily Northwestern
Tonight, Suitcase Party will conclude a yearlong volunteering and fundraising effort by the members of the student-run philanthropy group.
The group chooses a youth development program to sponsor each year, and members volunteer and raise money and awareness for the organization.
This year's beneficiary is Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development, a nonprofit organization in Chicago that helps underprivileged, at-risk youth, a SESP senior and one of the event's coordinator Julia Draper said.
"Many (youths) are exposed to illegal substances and violence," Draper said. "We were really impressed with what BUILD does for the kids. (They) really get a lot out of the program."
At the end of the year, Suitcase Party holds a final fundraising event where students can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes such as trips New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Other prizes include a TiVo for the dorm or Greek house that brings the highest percentage of its members to the party, and a free Kaplan course, Draper said.
Suitcase Party will be held tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the second floor of Norris University Center.
Prior to the event, Suitcase Party raised money for BUILD through bake sales and other events, said Weinberg senior Maya Ragavan, Suitcase Party co-chair.
Historically, 400 to 900 people have attended the party, and the group is hoping for a similar turnout this year, Ragavan said.
The party will include performances by Northwestern hip-hop and rap troupe, Hustle Group, the band High End Trio, and campus a cappella groups, Ragavan said. The party also will have food, dance lessons and makeovers, she said.
There will be appearances by Willie the Wildcat and psychology Prof. Eli Finkel, who started the organization in 1994, Draper said.
Programs offered by BUILD for at-risk youth include a violence prevention program, a DJ team, dance teams and a college preparation program, Ragavan said.
"BUILD uses asset-based community development, which utilizes all of the talents of the community," Ragavan said. "A lot of their programs use the talents of the kids."
Youth members of the BUILD DJ team will be performing alongside the Hustle Group at tonight's party, Draper said.
On Monday, three members of the Hustle Group and a few volunteers from Suitcase Party participated in a DJ workshop at BUILD to plan the performance, Draper said.
"We spoke to them about what the Suitcase Party is," Draper said. "The guys started working with the kids and exchanging different techniques. ... I think they had a good time."
Suitcase Party also holds outreach activities throughout the year to get the campus interested in issues, Ragavan said. The group previously held a gang workshop and an event where participants in the BUILD college preparation program came to visit Northwestern, she said.
Reach Akhila Kolisetty at a-kolisetty@northwestern.edu.
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