Dreams Of Hope

THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ARTS, DREAMS OF HOPE PROVIDES THE REGION'S LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, QUESTIONING, ASEXUAL, AND ALLIED (LGBTQA+) YOUTH A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT TO GROW IN CONFIDENCE, EXPRESS THEMSELVES, DEVELOP AS LEADERS, AND LEARN TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEATRIQ IS AN ORIGINAL PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM. EACH FALL, WORKING WITH A COHORT OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS - A COMBINATION OF STAFF MEMBERS AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. THE YOUTH CREATE AN ORIGINAL FULL-LENGTH, MULTIDISCIPLINARY PLAY. DURING THE WINTER, THEY REHEARSE THE SHOW, AND IN THE SPRING, THEY PRODUCE MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES. ALL PERFORMANCES CONCLUDE WITH THE ENSEMBLE ENGAGING THE AUDIENCE IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SHOW AND LGBTQA+ TOPICS. IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN-STAGE SHOW, THE YOUTH LEADERS COLLABORATE WITH STAFF TO DECIDE ON OTHER PROJECTS THE TROUPE WANTS TO TAKE ON SUCH AS, CREATING MUSIC VIDEOS, PROFESSIONALLY RECORDING ORIGINAL MUSIC, AND PRODUCING AN ALCOHOL-FREE YOUTH PRIDE WEEK EVENT.

SQOOL FOCUSES ON KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCE DISSEMINATION ABOUT LGBTQA+ IDENTITY, VISIBILITY, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES, THROUGH ARTS-BASED WORKSHOPS AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY EVENTS.THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO THE SQOOL PROGRAM:IN-CLASS RESIDENCIES CONNECTING DREAMS OF HOPE TEACHING ARTISTS WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO AUGMENT CURRICULUM WITH ARTS PRACTICE AND DIALOGUE ON LGBTQA+ THEMES IN A MANNER THAT IS ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE STANDARDS. OUT-OF-CLASS RESIDENCIES ARE DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN-SCHOOL ALLIES. THESE ARE YOUTH-CURATED ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ART CREATION AND CONVERSATION ON LGBTQA+ TOPICS. ONE-TIME ARTS WORKSHOPS EXPOSE MORE PEOPLE TO DREAMS OF HOPE, AND OUR PROGRAMMING. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS WHO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, TO EMPOWER PROFESSIONALS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH LGBTQA+ YOUTH, AND DROP-BY ART CREATION ACTIVITIES AT FESTIVALS AND OTHER EVENTS.

THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL IS DREAMS OF HOPE'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. THE GOAL OF THIS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS TO CREATE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDING THEATRIQ WORKSHOPS, PERFORMING IN YOUTH PRODUCTIONS, PARTICIPATING IN SQOOL PROGRAMS AND WHO ARE SEEKING ADDITIONAL WAYS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. MENTORED BY THE PROGRAM STAFF, THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS ACCESS TO MENTORSHIP,WILL EXPERIENCE ORGANIZING, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPING PROGRAMMING. THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL IS A (MINIMUM COMMITMENT) 7-8 MONTH PROGRAM. ALL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS MUST COMMIT TO GROUP MEETING TWICE A MONTH WHICH MAY BE HELD ON OR OFF-SITE FROM THEATRIQ MEETING SPACES. AS A GROUP, THE MEMBERS CHOOSE CULMINATING PROJECTS THAT INTEGRATE PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM. THEY WILL RECEIVE A BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT, AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING AND MANAGING IT, UNDER THE DIRECT MENTORSHIP OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS. FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION, YAC MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE A STIPEND.