Interactive Diversity Programming
For High Schools & Middle Schools
— Your Audience Is The Jury —
Our interactive diversity experiences put your audience—students, faculty, or staff—at the heart of the story, acting as a jury in a case dealing with issues at the intersection of race, class, gender, social justice, and the law. Since premiering Defamation in 2010, our interactive diversity programs have been performed over 750 times for more than 250,000 people.
“Just Cause really helped inform our previous work in identity, intersectionality, power, privilege, and positionality. The case allowed us to explore these things in new ways and made our community as a whole think deeper about the impact they have on relationships within the school and the relationships between students and teachers.”
Episcopal Day School brought in Just Cause: The Experience on a professional development day for faculty & staff.
As a Telepresence event, faculty & staff were able to share the experience in the same physical space while we delivered each phase of the program virtually. Audience members were able to address their peers and leaders in person as they discussed issues related to race, gender, and power.
Our programming has been presented to students, faculty, and staff across the country from grades 6-12, including schools such as Appoquinimionk School District, Association of Independent Michigan Schools, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Horace Mann School, Milton Academy, Tempe-Union High School District, Xavier High School, and many more.
Each of our programs bring a unique opportunity for your school to engage in civil discourse about the most pressing social issues of our day.
Our proven 3-phase experience model begins by immersing your audience in the power of theater with a riveting legal drama. Then, they will act as jurors to decide the outcome of the case, followed by a post-show discussion bring the issues to life for them as individuals and as a part of your organization.
Conversations started at your school will last for days, weeks & months.
In the Post-Show Discussion, our experienced facilitator will guide a conversation that gives your audience a way to share their own personal experiences and perspectives. Typical discussion themes include:
- The unique perspectives and experiences we each bring as individuals into our school and later our career
- How our own views shape our relationships with fellow students, teachers, and others
- How power plays into our daily interactions
- How social and identity issues play into decisions that shape our futures
- What it takes to have difficult conversations
- The role of individuals vs. organizations in social justice
- Allyship, respect, and accountability
An ideal diversity program appropriate for your entire school or targeted for specific audiences and events:
- Orientation Programming
- Student Leadership & Club Events
- Team Building & Professional Development for Staff
- Multicultural/Student Affairs Programming
- Customized as Part of Your Event (E.G., MLK Day, Diversity Week, etc.)
- Ongoing Diversity Programming
- Community Outreach