In this training, university students learn how to design and facilitate a variety of theatre for social justice (TSJ) projects. They develop cultural competency, ally-empowerment, community-building, playwriting, improvisation, and workshop facilitation skills. The interns work on three tracks: 1) Developing proposals for TSJ projects with school and/or community groups; 2) Creating arts-for-civic-engagement theatre and video pieces; and 3) Preparing to facilitate CT4CT Videos for Social Justice Workshops. 

Fringe Benefits teaching artists and student interns facilitate these workshops with diverse, underserved SoCal schools and communities. Participants share stories and brainstorm artistic strategies to promote awareness, understanding and action around multiple social justice issues. Supported by workshop facilitators, participants create “Call to Action” video scripts about issues affecting their community. Each workshop concludes with participants recording short, inspirational videos to share online with the wider public.

Student interns present their original plays and videos addressing current social justice issues. They take on leadership roles viz producing and marketing the showcase, along with a post-show discussion and reception for the interns and their audience of peers and faculty. 

Student interns and the school and community members with whom they’ve collaborated in VSJ Workshops will participate in the symposium. They will join together in panels, roundtables, and workshops to discuss their recent arts for civic engagement efforts, and to reflect critically on their concepts, methodologies, and the impact of their work. Finally, they wil explore ideas for advancing their work, the program, and the field. The wider SoCal community will be invited to join the dialogue and share their ideas and to participate in diverse theatre for social justice exercises and activities.