The Advot Project

I am applying for the prize because The Advot project elevates unheard voices of youth and creates a space for them to be seen and heard. The Advot project is at a crucial moment of growth and the prize would further solidify our unique art based process giving us an opportunity to train more facilitators and expand to new locations. This year alone Advot has been able to serve three different county detention facilities serving multiple  groups of incarcerated youth as well as youth in placement homes, continuation schools and more. The fact that Advot grew exponentially during the pandemic and the program moved online seamlessly is a testament to the strength of our process and our capacity to be facilitators of change. Particularly now, with the social unrest and racial divide, communication skills and relationships building is needed more than ever. The Advot Project is in a position to open the door for youth to live more just and peaceful lives. The prize funding will make it possible for us to grow, explore the inherent relationship between racial- social justice, communication and healthy relationships. Scale our program nationally and internationally, and implement an external evaluation of our impact.

I am a storyteller, performer, writer, teacher, mother and friend. I have dedicated my life to working locally and  globally with diverse populations using theatre as a vehicle for dialogue on discrimination reconciliation and  empowerment.  It was from this work  “The Advot Project'' was born.  I believe in the power of art to transform and create possibility, particularly for youth marked unfit or unworthy to succeed.  The Advot project uses the arts to engage in  radical communication. Teaching students to say what they need, want and what hurts them,without fear,inhibition or self doubt with compassion and love. We strive to create a world where regardless of race, color and gender everyone is celebrated, knows their worth and has the ability to speak up for themselves and their community. My vision and goal for the future is serving as many youth as possible. Stopping the school to prison pipeline. Developing a fee for our service and establishing financial sustainability. I hope to scale our program nationally and globally, curating  events that showcase our brilliant students thus expanding  attendees' awareness of the possibility of change,inspiring people to take action and helping them let go of their implicit bias.

Youth today, particularly youth that grew up experiencing poverty, involved in gang activity from underserved communities lack communication skills and engage in unhealthy relationships. 

There are millions of teens ages 13-24 globally who are unable to advocate for themselves because of a lack of self-confidence, lack of role models communication tools and  guidance in relationship building. 

This problem leads to youth dropping out of high school, incarceration and failure to fulfill potential. On any given day over 48,000 youth in the United States are confined in facilities away from home as a result of juvenile justice or criminal justice involvement. Many get themselves in more trouble by having “attitude” and using “bad” language.

The Advot project teaches communication skills, explores code switching and explains qualities of healthy and supportive relationships through an art based curriculum. In our workshops youth act out situations, express feelings and learn new ways to be in dialogue. They explore critical thinking and problem solving. Participants find their voice and have an opportunity to use it to speak up for themselves. 

The Advot project teaches youth to navigate and engage in healthy happy supportive relationships so they can live fulfilling lives, free of violence and abuse. 

Our approach is innovative because we use the arts to foster new behaviors. We challenge students to create and embody real-life scenarios with alternative endings. They explore where they may have made a different choice. This is not theater solely for the purpose of self-expression. We use theater techniques as a means of promoting social justice, creating equality and teaching self advocacy. We challenge participants to listen, take action, and then make changes in their lives. We aim for them to  create meaningful networks of supportive people and become the best versions of themselves. 

What is unique in our work is the ripple process that we have developed.
This process is held up by five pillars:  1. Listening  with Compassion 
2. Authentic Storytelling 3. Practicing  Accountability  4. Acknowledging  Your Heart  5. Recognizing  Perspective.

Each pillar consists of what we have found to be the fundamentals of communication and crucial aspects of relationship building that we teach in our original exercises and workshops. 

We are disruptive in the unwavering faith in our students and deep belief in the possibility of change.
Anyone no matter what they have done, what kind of crime they commited can learn new behaviours and be transformed. 

The primary goal of The Advot Project is to change lives by empowering youth to learn how to communicate and be in relationships. By doing so we believe youth have a better chance of happiness, and live better lives. Based on pre and post surveys we know we make an impact on participants' ability to express themselves. We witness that impact at the final culmination of our workshops.  Participants share what they learned and how they changed with the larger community .They teach the audience tools they mastered. Our alumni regularly reflect and share their experiences. We then recruit them to assist our facilitators, serve as interpreters and speak at events. One of the most telling reflections of impact is evident in relationships we maintain after the program with participants who continue to be supported and nurtured by Advot. 

Our method is effective therefore we are training more facilitators, expanding to new locations and exploring new partnerships. We are standerzing our curriculum and planning to scale the program.

With the social unrest and racial divide, what we do is needed more than ever. The Advot Project is in a position to teach tools for a more just and peaceful world.