Dear YPT Community,
Our doors are open again! As of March 2022, two full years after shifting our work to a virtual space to protect the health and safety of the young people we serve and their communities, we are back at work at our administrative headquarters in Takoma DC, and we are delivering in-person arts education and storytelling programs across the Washington, DC region. There is nothing more inspiring than being back in in-person spaces with young people. They continue to model resilience for us; they are positive, energetic, dreaming of the future, and engaging deeply in issues impacting their communities. Each week, these young artists show up with hope, creativity, and joy. This spring, YPT is already delivering:
- Five in-person playwriting and storytelling programs across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, including arts integration coaching for teachers at Watkins Elementary School and Creative Minds International Public Charter School
- Three Abolishing Racism and Oppression in the Workplace (AROW) engagements over more than 100 hours of consulting around creating and embodying anti-oppressive organizational values
- Twenty workshops of Students Advocating for the Eradication of Racism (SAFER) at Sitar Arts Center in which high school students are tackling issues of social justice, including harassment, bullying, and racism
- Four hours of programming every week at Washington School for Girls and SEED Public Charter School where elementary, middle, and high school students are bringing their stories to life through both playwriting and visual art
- A college-level program at Prince George’s Community College supporting students in their spring semester acting course in developing and performing their own original monologues
- Eight hours of mentorship, workshop readings, and feedback sessions for Young Playwrights in Progress playwright Elizabeth Shannon as she develops her play Mama Bushwick is Dead with feedback from YPT’s artistic staff and local career theater artists
Now, as we prepare for a full summer of programming and the exciting work to come in the next school year, we are focused on connection. Connection with young people, connection with teachers, schools, and partners, and connection with you.
Today, we are setting a goal to raise $10,000 by June 30 to make this work possible. Will you support YPT today as we dream our way toward a future of connection, creativity, and joy for the young people in our community? We hope we can count on your donation, and we hope you will follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @yptdc to join us for our upcoming in-person and virtual showcases and readings. We can’t wait to connect with you soon!
With gratitude,
Brigitte Winter, Executive Director
Photo: A student at Washington School for Girls showing her collage and art project during Story Art.