Friends Outside in Los Angeles County is honored to be a part of this exciting project with whom we are partnered on our new Dads Back! Academy, fatherhood services for re-entry fathers (and mothers).

State funds support vibrant community-based arts
programming at Friends Outside in Los Angeles County

The California Arts Council, a state agency, has awarded $5,600 to TheatreWorkers Project (fiscal receiver Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA) as part of its Artists Activating Communities program.

With support from the California Arts Council, TheatreWorkers Project (inspired by the concept of Restorative Justice) will work with the Friends Outside in Los Angeles County Fatherhood Project to provide theatre workshops to men who are transitioning from incarceration to society. Participation in improvisation, writing and storytelling will culminate in short performances for families and friends that will promote positive self esteem as the men redefine their personal narratives. Led by Susan Franklin Tanner, the teaching artist team will include Jim Macdonald, Marlene McCurtis and Tom Kellog.

“California Arts Council grants provide vital support for projects in diverse communities across our state,” said Craig Watson, Director of the California Arts Council. “This was an historic year of state arts support. We are proud to invest more than $8.5 million in funding 712 grant projects that will stimulate local growth and prosperity, and meet the needs of our communities through deep engagement with culture and creative expression.”

TheatreWorkers Project is dedicated to providing opportunities for working people, the unemployed and youth to tell their stories through theatre by creating and presenting performance pieces about historical and current social and political issues, and transforming the classics, making them accessible to all ages.

Please join us for the Grand Opening of our Dads Back! Academy, fatherhood services for re-entry fathers (and mothers) who are parents (or like parents) to a child under the age of 24.  The event will take place on Friday, September 30, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (program at 11:15 A.M.), at 9702 Holmes Avenue, Los Angeles, 90002, at the Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church.

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.friendsoutsidela.org where you can sign-up to receive future email alerts.

 

More than 5 million children in the U.S. have had a parent who lived with them go to jail or prison. That’s one in 28 kids, compared with one in 125 about 30 years ago. This proportion is higher among black, poor, and rural children and is more than likely an underestimate since it does not include children with a non-residential parent who is incarcerated.  The majority of parents incarcerated are fathers, with 1.1 million serving time in 2010. Read the full report at First5la.org.