My America, Our America
The semester-long My America, Our America project was built around an exploration of the ideals that we have come to expect as U.S. citizens, as well as certain organized efforts that have been undertaken to protect them. During the course of this project students on our team examined the means by which these social standards have been communicated, what they mean to “us” as diverse individuals, how different groups have organized effective struggles in pursuit of them, and how these movements have impacted contemporary society.
After undertaking research based explorations of these ideals and social movements, our students drew inspiration from the work of the Centerstage Production Company’s My America project and utilized their own learning as the foundation for writing and producing video monologues. Further, each student contributed his or her most potent writing to a team-wide publication, titled My America, Our America, that offers further thinking about the diverse themes touched on during this project. During the course of our work we were supported with guidance from several local organizations, including Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, the Moxie Theater and the So Say We All Literary Arts Collective, each lending mentorship related to the writing, performance & critical thinking necessary to make our final products - the monologues and the publication - professional works of art.
At the conclusion of the My America, Our America project students exhibited their work at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center]to share their thinking and facilitate conversations with our community. During this event students screened their impressive monologues, read from our team’s publication, and engaged in critical conversations with those in attendance. While imagining and producing both the monologues and the writings was an enjoyable and challenging experience, we urge everyone that has the opportunity to view them to consider that the aggregate of these pieces serves as a powerful assessment of what it means to live in America by those who may very well determine its future.