To inspire activism in the next generation of leaders, community mentors in a variety of fields welcome teens on a drop-in basis to participate in unscripted conversations and workshops about changing communities. We invite youth to reclaim the word “responsibility” from its frequent use by adults to blame or shame youth for societal problems. Instead, young people will use theater techniques, critical thinking, and community organizing to reframe “responsibility” to mean “the ability to respond to a broken society.” Teens will share topics of interest and receive feedback from guest mentors including Brent Blair, associate professor of Theatre Practice at the USC School of Dramatic Arts; Gilbert Salazar, an artist specializing in techniques from the Theater of the Oppressed; Suzanne Lacy, an artist and professor at the USC Roski School of Art and Design, and others.

Presented in partnership with the USC School of Dramatic Arts, led by Brent Blair, director of Theatre and Social Change and associate professor of Theatre Practice.