If we can strengthen advisors, we can give school papers the self-sufficiency they need. Our staff volunteer as mentors. And the American Society of Newspaper Editors offers an annual journalism education institute for 200 teachers. But most schools offer no forum to address the issues. We expect the kids to work through them alone.
Performances center around respect for self and others and responsibility for one's own actions.
People from all walks of life have embraced us. The situations are real and we don't sugarcoat the issues. I know teenagers, especially, appreciate that. Rish received a note from a young lady who wrote that a show had opened her eyes to her own racist and destructive behaviors. She credits a performance as giving her a new perspective on life.