I Am Me | A Youth Queer Residency
Theater | Visual Arts | Movement | Writing | Photography | Mini-documentary
Tuesdays & Fridays, 3pm - 5pm | June 11-Aug 2 at Stepping Stones, Carbondale, CO
Join the stellar ensemble of teaching artists for a Youth Queer VOICES Summer Residency that explores questions of Identity and Belonging in a supportive, creative, and validating environment with peers.
“I Am Me” is a FREE 8-week Youth Queer VOICES Summer Residency that includes story circles, workshops, and hands-on art making and creating across the arts. All youth between the ages of 12 to 18 are welcome, with a special intention of holding safe space for LGBTQ+ youth together. Bilingual instruction and interpretation available.
PARTICIPANTS CAN REGISTER ONE WEEK AT A TIME OR FOR THE FULL 8 WEEK RESIDENCY!
For questions contact MinTze at (303)249-7135 or Kyle at kyle@steppingstonesrfv.org.
RESIDENCY SCHEDULE
Week 1 | June 11th & 14th
Theatre 1 with Bryan Alvarez Terrazas & Micha Schoeppe
Week 2 | June 18th & 21st
Movement with Olivia Pevec & Micha Shoeppe
Week 3 | June 25th & 28th
Theatre 2 with Gabriela Alvarez Espinoza & Delaney Meyers
Week 4 | July 2nd & 5th
Writing with Raleigh Burleigh & James Steindler
Week 5 | July 9th & July 12th
Visual Arts with Anjanette Garcia & Micha Shoeppe
Week 6 | July 16th & 19th
Photography with Micha Shoeppe & Samantha Freese
Week 7 | July 23rd & 26th
Documentaries with Jem Moore & Micha Shoeppe
Week 8 | July 30th & August 2nd
Documentaries with Jem Moore & Claudia Pawl
ABOUT “I AM ME”
We are grateful for the grant of Arts in Society to help us launch a new initiative of “I AM ME, Youth Queer VOICES Summer Residency”.
“I Am Me” is Youth Identity Exploration through Queer VOICES Theater Project, providing LGBTQ+ youth the safe space, the freedom, and the artistic tools to express their authentic selves.
The project’s collaborator is Stepping Stones of the Roaring Fork Valley. Stepping Stones cultivates strong mentoring relationships and community spaces for youth ages 12-24 to foster personal growth, compassion, and responsibility. The youth they serve mainly come from lower income families. This partnership provides consistent, accountable, and safe space for youths, and this project brings about exploration of “Who am I?” and “How do I fit in this world?”, especially in the realm of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our Teaching Artist Ensemble of 8 comprises of artists from bilingual, bi-cultural, and queer backgrounds. They have been through the journey themselves, and are excited about sharing their experiences and wisdom in the safe queer space.
“I am Me” addresses the need to support LGBTQ+ youth in their journey of self-discovery and finding their place in the world, which is often tender, scary, and confusing. This journey is often suppressed and overlooked, as the support system is often lacking and the societal climate can swing between hostility and ignorance.
VOICES believes that art is where harsh boundaries are exposed, transcended; where truth shines, and healing happens. We believe that Through the 8-week programming in theater, writing, movement, visual arts, photography, and mini-documentary, youth are empowered by this safe and creative process, building confidence, compassion, and connection.
We believe that “I am Me” will be an important stepping stone in helping the youth feel seen, heard, and celebrated, and helping them develop self-acceptance and deep awareness of who they are in this dizzying world.
