Storycatchers Theatre
Storycatchers Theatre is a nonprofit organization in Chicago, Illinois, that serves adolescents and emerging adults at all stages of court involvement with creative youth development programs. Storycatchers engages groups of young people in the process of writing, producing and performing original musicals inspired by their own personal stories. Meade Palidofsky founded the company in 1984 and has served as its artistic director since its inception. Storycatchers delivers its programs in partnerships that include the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, the North Region Aftercare Field Services Office, and cultural organizations that include Steppenwolf  Theatre Company and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Programs include Word Warriors, formerly known as Fabulous Females, for girls and boys incarcerated at the Illinois Youth Center (IYC)-Warrenville, Firewriters for boys at IYC-Chicago, Temporary LockDown for boys at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and the Changing Voices post-release employment program for young people navigating reentry to Chicago neighborhoods, conducted in coordination with the newly formed Aftercare Services. Changing Voices has been recognized with a GO Innovate Award from Chicago Beyond, as well as an Art for Justice Award. Storycatchers received a 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program  Award from the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Meade Palidofsky accepted the award from First Lady Michelle Obama in a ceremony at the White House in November 2013.