Their stories. Their transformation.
Our young people are writing stories, confronting trauma, building job skills and setting themselves up for success. For some, success is getting a GED. Going to college. Getting a CDL license. Giving a speech in front of 500 people. Dealing constructively with the loss of a parent. Or even becoming a professional Teaching Artist themselves.
On top of all that, they are influencing better decisions for civic leaders and at-risk youth.
Scroll down to learn more about how they empower themselves and the Chicago community.
‘The Greatest Moment I Have Ever Seen on Stage.’
“I saw them [Storycatchers Theatre] do this thing on stage and talked about it on the radio in an act we called, ‘The Greatest Moment I Have Ever Seen on Stage.’ I have to say, I stand by that, and I have seen Hamilton.” – Ira Glass, host of This American Life
Changing Voices’ Impact On Youth in 2018.
Post-Release Transitional Employment.
A growing cohort of young adults who have re-entered society from court-involvement worked up to 30 hours/week in a writing and performance curriculum designed to confront trauma. In addition, they received job-readiness and life skills critical to success after transitioning from Storycatchers to education opportunities or full-time employment.
Changing Voices impact on development and readiness.
# of Youth Employed
# of Performances
# of Writing Workshops
# of Life and Job Skills Workshops
Performances That Make Positive Change.
Changing Voices performed for 4,243 total audience members in 2018 alone. This includes 275 Illinois judges, governors, and state representatives, giving formerly-incarcerated youth the chance to connect with the system’s change-makers and advocate for themselves.
The ensemble also works with the Chicago Police Department’s training curriculum to perform interactive stories every month. Changing Voices worked with 1,243 Chicago police officers and recruits last year to bridge the gap between the police and the communities they serve.
Impact from Residential Programming in 2018.
Emotional and social development for incarcerated youth.
Our trauma-informed programs are an outlet of expression, collaboration and means of personal growth done through the process of story writing, creative workshops and performing original musicals. In our programs, they recapture their identity, find their voice and work with positive role-models who give them the hope and direction needed to have a successful re-entry into society.
Ages
%
Female
%
Male
# of Participants
# of Performances
# of Workshops and Rehearsals
# of Audience Members
Meet Edmund Buck.
He was incarcerated in 1994. He performed with us in 1995-1996. He met a girl named Dori in that program. He was released 19 years later.
Today, he mentors our participants and inspires them to think confidently about themselves.
Edmund credits a lot of his success, and maybe his recent marriage to Dori, to his involvement with Storycatchers.