Organizations with Relavant Goals

Five organizations that have relavant goals to what we are trying to accomplish at DePaul are Catharsis Theater, Imagination Theater, Rape Victim Advocates, Voices and Faces Project, and A Long Walk Home.  These organizations focus on using creative writing in theatre, storytelling, poetry, and in group therapy sessions focused on topics that create proactive conversations about sexual assault awareness and healing.

Catharsis Productions's "mission is to reduce interpersonal violence by producing artistically innovative and research-supported programming that challenges oppressive attitudes transforms behavior, and inspires communities to create a world without violence.  We educate audiences on challenging social issues in unexpected ways.  Our programs encourage genuine dialogue  using humor audience interaction and dynamic theatrical media to overcome the traditional defensiveness and preconceptions about these issues.  We look to engage students in tough conversations about interpersonal violence, in particular on the topics of sexual assault, sexual harassment  and oppression.  We challenge mainstream beliefs and myths, enabling individuals to challenge their positions of power and privilege  question the cultural values they take for granted, and hold themselves accountable for their actions.  It is our hope that views and behaviors can be changed once audiences become attuned to their moral responsibilities in their interpersonal and public domains, and that the seeds of long-term change may be planted as a result of our efforts. " -Catharsis Productions Imagination Theater:  "We provide diverse audiences with original, dynamic, participatory theatrical programming that enhances well-being and creates a more civil and safe society. Imagination Theater specializes in programming that engages audience members to participate rather than merely observe. Our performances enable audiences to explore complex issues in safe environments, empowering audience members and strengthening communities. We offer programming for all ages. Our social and health issues presentations are geared for kindergarten through high school. College 101 is perfect for college freshmen and Senior Spotlight is directed toward senior citizens." -Imagination Theater No Secrets (Children's Sexual Abuse Prevention Program)  "Imagination Theater created the Children’s Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (CSAPP) in 1985. Since then, CSAPP has evolved into one of Imagination Theater’s largest programs. CSAPP is entirely grant funded, allowing Imagination Theater to provide this vital curriculum to Chicago Public Schools free of charge. The play No Secrets is offered in three age-appropriate versions (K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th grades). No Secrets provides students with critical information about personal body safety, illuminates the difference between a good touch and a bad touch, and teaches how to report abuse to an adult. Imagination Theater partners with several different organizations to bring this crucial program to CPS schools.Rape Victim Advocates provides educators to help schools prepare for CSAPP as well as on-site counselors on performance days. The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center conducts training sessions for the social workers of recipient schools. Communities in Schools of Chicago helps Imagination Theater bring CSAPP to those schools most in need of such services. For more information or to discuss bringing CSAPP to your school, please call us at (773) 327-6788. " -Imagination Theater Imagination Theater were the proud recipients of the 2011 Visionary Award from Rape Victim Advocates.         Both organizations offer programs for schools and are based on Augusto Boal's theatre theory. Boal's theory is based off of audience interaction.  A show will be composed of scenes and the scenes and held by a facilitator. The facilitator will break up the scenes to call to audience discussion and having audience members get up on stage to present better solutions.  Boal theory is based on social justice, which both of these companies work to accomplish and teach.     Augusto Boal is "best known for his work in Theatre of the Oppressed... Boal and his colleges challenged contemporary theatrical realism." Boal also came up with "the development of the forum theatre" which led Boal to "see the value of giving spectators the opportunity to discover their own solutions to their collective problems by participating in the action of a scene." (44-45, Moore) Boal is an incredible theater artist that works for social change, there aren't very many other theater companies that use his theater theories in Chicago, because it is such a hard technique to use.  With that being said, Imagination Theater and Catharsis Productions implement his techniques in the best way possible.  Working with so many individuals across the nation, addressing issues of social justice around Sexual Assault.              All of Imagination Theater's performances are held at schools of all ages. Their No Secrets programming is for elementary schools and middle schools, to start conversations about awareness of sexual assaults.  They use tools to educate students on what "good touches and bad touches are" as well as having the students name 5 people in their lives they can go to, if they were in a situation where they would need to contact an adult if any sexual abuse, or harassment took place.  Their programming also talks about sending nude picture text messages and how in Illinois it is illegal to do so because it is considered Child Pornography.  Catharsis is geared towards an older audience.         I would assume that Catharsis named their theater company based on one of Boal's techniques called "Catharsis" which meant "'dynamisation'... that was brought about by focusing on the action itself...removing obstacles and identifying the wishes of the participants." (47, Moore) The audience demographic that Catharsis is geared towards are high school, college students and adults.  Catharsis's subject matter, is a lot more similar to what we are trying to accomplish with this project, simply because they address rape, accountability and redefining the proper meanings of consent.  Both of these organizations work closely with Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) to properly discuss sexual assault.     Moore, Philip. Acting out : Therapy for Groups. Aldershot, Hants, England: Brookfield, Vt. : Arena, 1997. Print.

-Samantha Bentson



RVA

Rape Victim Advocates

RVA is an Illinois not-for-profit organization made up of many individuals with two primary goals: to assure that survivors of sexual assault are treated with dignity and compassion; and to affect changes in the way the legal system, medical institutions and society as a whole respond to survivors.

RVA focuses on both social service and social change. They have a presence in Chicago area emergency rooms to provide nonjudgmental emotional support to victims of sexual violence; provide basic legal and medical information, and referrals to other service organizations to help the survivor make informed decisions. RVA works with the Chicago Police Department, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and other area institutions to strive to improve the treatment of survivors as a group in our society.  

RVA offers three distinct program areas: Counseling (individual and group), Advocacy(legal and medical) and Education & Training.  RVA uses creative writing in different forums, but especially in group therapy.  "Voicing Truth: Writing Workshop" was a therapy group that focused on the empowerment and healing through creative writing.  Voicing Truth offered writing and storytelling as a tool for healing, transformation and celebration to survivors of sexual violence and to those who advocate for change and justice in issues of sexuality.

ALWH

A Long Walk Home

Founded in 2003, A Long Walk Home, Inc. is a 501 (c) non-profit that uses art therapy and the visual and performing arts to end violence against girls and women.  ALWH features the testimonies and art by survivors and their allies in order to provide safe and entertaining forums through which the public can learn about healing from and preventing gender violence.

A Long Walk Home, Inc. provides many different outlets and mediums for survivors to express themselves, and empower others to make positive social change.  ALWH focuses a lot on visual arts, music and theatre performance, but survivors first write their own stories to share.  Creative writing and personal narrative is a strong tool to utilize in these settings so that people can express themselves and tell their story in the way that they wish to.  

The Voices and Faces Project

The Voices and Faces Project is a non-profit nation survivor network created to give a voice and face to rape survivors, providing a sense of solidarity and possibility to those who have lived through sexual violence.  Their mission is to create a national network of survivors willing to stand up and speak out about sexual violence.  They have a network of survivors that speak to different groups about sexual violence.  They work to bring visibility to the issue of sexual violence.

When putting names, faces, and stories to sexual violence, it brings these issues into the light.  People write and share their stories which can be empowering for many people.  Others are able to read these stories and see that sexual violence takes many forms, and affects many different people in unique and challenging ways.  The writing of these stories has started a movement across the U.S. to work towards ending silence of rape survivors and try to create changes in our society as well as policies around sexual violence.  This organization utilizes the stories of those willing to share in order to work together to build awareness and better policies and knowledge around sexual violence issues.

      These organizations all utilize the power of expression through creative writing in different ways, but all working around sexual violence issues.  Empowerment, healing, and activism are all crucial in this movement and these organizations use creative writing to work in all of these different arenas.  

     There have been several studies on the benefits of sharing stories and experiences to enhance healing within communities.  In a study called "Wounded healing: Forming a storytelling community in Hip-Hop Lit." it details the importance of personal narratives and sharing the suffering that one has witnesses (Hill 2009).  This serves as a form of release and relief for themselves, and this is what happens within creative writing forums and communities as well.

     Sharing is important, but community support is also necessary in these circles.  These issues are very complex, and bringing visibility to them is only the first step.  One must seek support and support others on this journey to healing.  The journey of healing can also encourage activism and advocacy, similar to the Voices and Faces Project.  Community is a strong foundation and catalyst for activism.  

     We hear of small groups of people getting together and sharing stories that ignites a flame that is fanned by the encouragement, passion, and support that can be fostered in community.  As an example, there was a case study done in 1992 titled, "Healing Their Wounds: Guatemalan Refugee Women as Political Activists."  This author, Deborah Light, studied the importance of community when healing, but also when speaking out and working for justice.  Support within a community can serve as a strong foundation and catalyst for both social and political activism (Light 1992).  Community can eliminate some levels of isolation and helplessness that create a climate for activism.

Hill, Marc Lamont (01/01/2009). "Wounded healing: Forming a storytelling community in Hip-Hop Lit.". Teachers College record (1970) (0161-4681), 111 (1), p. 248.

Light, Deborah (12/1992). "Healing Their Wounds: Guatemalan Refugee Women as Political Activists". Women & therapy (0270-3149), 13 (3), p. 297.

-Emily Edwards