For the past fifteen years Nancy Davis, a community organizer and mediator, has been the founder and mainstay of the unique teen program, City at Peace Santa Barbara [Facebook page]. During her tenure she helped hundreds of young people find their voice through the performing arts and nurtured a generation of future leaders.
With her retirement this past year, Nancy’s legacy will remain intact as City at Peace continues in Santa Barbara. This year the program returns under the guidance of Joseph Velasco, Artistic Director, and Karena Jew, Managing Director. Both Joseph and Karena bring a wealth of experience in the arts and non-profit worlds and are both excited by the coming season.
City at Peace SB is looking for a diverse group of young people who are interested in
– self-expression through theater, poetry, storytelling, & music
– issues of diversity and peace
– making their community a better place
The City at Peace program is based on a national curriculum that uses the performing arts to unlock participants’ creativity around important personal and social issues. Teens learn the skills necessary for performance, both on stage and off.
Along the way participants learn conflict resolution and mediation skills that transform them into peacemakers in the community and in their own lives. Participants have the opportunity to work with professional artists such as musical director, John Douglas; playwright/poet, Sojourner Kincaid-Rolle; BOXTALES Theater Company member, Matt Tavianini; and choreographer Shannon Abero.
With the help of our artistic team and adult facilitators, the participants create their own unique production at Center Stage Theater and perform various Community Action Projects throughout the school year about issues that affect them as teens and members of our community. Community Service hours are also available through this program.
On October 6, 2010, at La Cuesta High School, 710 Santa Barbara Street, City at Peace Santa Barbara will once again begin the process of creating a voice for teens with a small diverse group of young people (13-19 years old). The program meets every Wednesday from 4:00-8:00 pm and includes dinner.
The vision of City at Peace is a society where teenagers are valued and respected and play a leadership role in solving problems that affect our communities. There is no audition process for the program. Participants of City at Peace are not chosen on the basis of talent or ability, but on their desire to make a difference in our community. The program is completely free to participants. We aim to empower teenagers to create safe, healthy, and peaceful lives and communities.
City at Peace Santa Barbara meets every Wednesday, 4:00 – 8:00 pm at La Cuesta High School, 710 Santa Barbara St. More information may be obtained by contacting Karena Jew, Managing Director
Phone: (805) 899-4292 or e-mail: cityatpeaceinfo@gmail.com