Singers, rappers and poets performed at a talent show yesterday to help raise money for a SF State program that helps those coming from and in the criminal justice system to the university.

Project Rebound aims to help these individuals get back on their feet through education. After recent budget cuts, the student-run organization needed a way to make back the money that the Associate Student Inc. couldn’t give them. To help with money shortage, the program threw its first talent show fundraiser, which was held on the evening of Oct.23 in Jack Adams Hall.

According to the event coordinator Jennifer Lopez, Project Rebound will use all of the money raised from the talent show to provide those in need with financial aid and free lunches. The money will also help with the cost of books, school supplies and testing fees for tests such as the JEPET and the SAT's.

“We’ve been planning this talent show since the summer time,” said Lopez, who is also an intern at Project Rebound. “The proceeds are going to the little things our members need that ASI isn’t giving us anymore. They don’t see how test fees are a necessity for students who can barely afford to buy lunch, so we’re taking it into our own hands.”

Lopez said the staff and interns hope that events, like the talent show, will help spread the word that donations and attention is needed. “This is a fun way to get involved and I hope we can do these event more often.”

Lopez, 20, participated in the talent show by showing the crowd her rhythm with a belly dancing routine that lead into a humorous skit with Project Rebound director, Jason Bell. Bell ended the performance with a breakdancing routine that was encouraged by the cheering of the crowd.

Other acts included poets reciting spoken word poems about gender, violence and life. SIngers belted out tracks by Alicia Keys and dancers performed everything from pop-locking routines of the dance crew, Tic Tac Tic, to a modern ballet routine to James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful.”

SF State student Brijet Finister performed the modern ballet routine. “I found out about the fundraiser through a flyer in the Student Center,” Finister said. “I’m a choreographer, so I thought it would be good to participate for a good cause and have people see me dancing.”

Tonya Kinigstein and Michael Lauw, both volunteers at Project Rebound, were handing out tickets, receiving donations and doing their best to lure people into the event. “I’m an international student from Singapore, and I think it’s great to be a part of a program that is so helpful to the people who have made mistakes and want to fix them,” Lauw said.

Kingstein agreed, and said she was “happy to help raise money.”

The event had no decorations, free food or prizes, because Lopez didn't want to spend more money than she had to. She wanted the event's main focus to be on the cause and the show's performers. The audience of about 30 people encouraged the performers with cheers, clapping and dancing.

Family members like Stacia Alvarez came to support their loved ones in the show. Others, like Mary Gomez, came to see the entertainment. Gomez, a sociology major, came because she heard about the event in one of her classes and wanted to see what kind of “characters” SF State had.

"I wanted to hear a little bit more about the project. Since it was promoted, it caught my attention," Gomez said. "I want to see the talent students are willing to show everyone."