"We do gymnastics, majorette," Waters said. "Our summer camp touches base on reading, spelling, math. We do a lot of things."
Road to the Bud: Empiire Dance Company
For Waters and her team, the Bud Billiken Parade holds a special place in their hearts.
"The Bud Billiken parade is amazing because when I sit on that float, or when we walk out on the route, everybody on the street is screaming," Waters said.
However, running a youth organization that provides both athletic and academic services isn't without its challenges, especially financial ones. To keep their programs going, Empiire relies on various fundraising efforts, including a method known as "tagging."
"Tagging is fundraising. It's when the kids come out and ask for donations in the street," Waters said.
This method has been effective for Empiire. They've raised up to $15,000 in some years. But it's not without obstacles.
"We're dealing with a lot of different things. Certain aldermen approve certain teams to tag. Some aldermen don't want us in their area tagging," Waters said. "But at the end of the day, I want them to look at the positive side of it, not the negative side of it.""
Waters is hopeful that the community will continue to step up and support their mission to empower Chicago's youth.
"I just wish it was some type of funding for the summertime already. That way you won't have to see us on the street everyday trying to fundraise for certain things," Waters said.