Organization Description

Mission: The Performance Project brings people together to create theater and visual art through multi-generational collaborations. Our community members of many ages and ancestries participate in artistic training, inter-generational mentoring, and leadership development. We claim a public voice, engage audiences in dialogue about oppression and liberation, and celebrate our humanity and connection through the arts. Click here to see the ways in which we support youth and families!

Goals: The Performance Project envisions a world in which all people strive for personal and social liberation, where all individuals and cultures are honored, embrace interconnectedness, and we all are free to achieve our full potential. We aim to create art that 1) engages people in dialog about social justice and culture, 2) dismantles all forms of oppression, and 3) expresses and celebrates our shared humanity.

About First Generation
Mother Tongue Promo (11/9/23)

Placement Description

  • First Generation and Ubuntu Arts Community Mentor: First Generation is an intensive, arts, youth leadership and social justice program in Springfield, Massachusetts that provides a platform for young people to have a public voice in their community, and beyond. First Gen brings together youth ages 15 and up for self-reflection, dialogue, and artistic training. Forming an artistic ensemble, the group creates multi-lingual performances based on their life experiences with a focus on social justice. First Generation members may be the first in their family to grow up in the United States, the first to speak English, to graduate high school, go to college, be openly LGBTQ+, not be incarcerated, be drug free, be a feminist, break a silence, or many other firsts. Participants are multi-lingual and include youth who are court-involved. Click here and here for more information!
    • Responsibilities include:
      • Helping with coordination and logistics
      • Participating with First Gen youth in our artistic and leadership trainings
      • Support youth in their devised physical theater creative process
      • Support during performances and events
      • Share college/graduate/professional experience 
      • Possible transportation support
      • Offer academic support/tutoring if interested
  • Administrative and Organizational Support Volunteer: Help with 1) event planning (logistics, email communication, ticketing), 2) contacting venues, vendors, and community partners, 3) creating content for newsletters, website, and press releases, 4) emailing outreach to community organizations, colleges, student groups, and local businesses, 5) transcribing First Generation script materials from audio recordings, 6) researching and updating  website content, and 7) proofreading and data entry support. Click here for more information!
  • Theater Tech Intern: Support with sound and light operation, stage managing, dramaturgy, and general tech support for productions. Click here for more info!
  • Event Support Volunteer: Help out at performances and family and community celebrations.
  • Social Media Support Volunteer
  • Transportation Support Volunteer
  • Skills:
    • A strong interest in social justice, cultural activism, art, and community building
    • Passion for creating spaces for young voices
    • Strong communication skills
    • Reliable Transportation
    • Organized and detail-oriented
    • Reliable and committed 
    • Multilingual is a plus!
  • Training: Training is available for each position.

Time Commitment

Time commitment varies for each position.

  • First Generation and Ubuntu Arts Community Mentor: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 3:00 (or 3:30)- 6:30 PM
  • Administrative and Organizational Support Volunteer: Virtual and flexible hours (2 hrs/week or more)
  • Theater Tech Intern: Weeks leading up productions (contact for more info)
  • Event Support Volunteer: Performances and Family and Community Celebration (Always on Fridays or Saturdays)
  • Social Media Support Volunteer: Flexible virtual hours (contact for more info)
  • Transportation Support Volunteer: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and production weeks

How to Get Involved

All positions and opportunities are available on a rolling basis. Please contact the people below to get involved!

Contact Information 

What is Ubuntu?

*Ubuntu is a classical African philosophy. It is the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks about the fact that we cannot exist as human beings in isolation. Ubuntu is about our interconnectedness. Ubuntu says that you can’t be fully human all by yourself, and when you have Ubuntu, you are known for your generosity.

“We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.” – Desmond Tutu

Click below for an interview with the co-directors of the Performance Project – Julie Lichtenberg and James Arana.

An Interview with the Performance Project

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