Sanctuary Stage Information

Sanctuary Stage is producing an original play focusing on the lives, experiences and challenges of Latino families in the City of Independence. Bridges will be developed through a community engaged play-making process with information obtained from story-circles, interviews, & public forums. This project is in collaboration with the City of Independence, Department of Latino Outreach and the residents of Independence. "The Arts contribute to the strengthening of communities"- this is the goal of the Bridges project. Our objective is to involve over 1,200 Polk County residents who will participate in the creation and performance of a new play about the Latino culture and history in the City of Independence. We expect that this project will strengthen inter-generational and cross-cultural relationships between those from different professions, ages, cultures and economic backgrounds. This project will also provide sustainability for future community arts projects within the city through the professional training in community based theater-making for community members, artists and social justice advocates from within the city. We believe that the process of community engagement in in the arts and the creation of Bridges will result in giving participants a collaborative process that will help strengthen the community and promote tolerance, understanding and productive dialogue.