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• MANDALA IN SOUTH AFRICA!
Mandala Center director, Marc Weinblatt, recently returned from leading an extraordinary 10-day T.O. training for 26 grassroots community workers in Durban, South Africa. Under the auspices of the Durban-based Democracy Development Program, this intensive “train the trainers” event included two public interactive “Forum Theatre” performances – one for the general public and one for Zulu youth in KwaMashu, Township. Themes brought forth in the Forum plays created by the participants included racism, cultural diversity, crime, gender oppression, and domestic violence. The goal of the training was to provide an authentic experience in the transformative power of the Theatre of the Oppressed process as well as train the participants to use the techniques in their own grassroots contexts. The hope is that, from this experience, the participants will have the skill as well as the confidence to add this highly experiential tool to the work they are already doing in the community towards the healing and re-democratization of South Africa. Fantastic! A more detailed report will be available soon.



• OTHER PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Some current and upcoming projects of the Mandala Center include:

1) Anti-Oppression “Train the Trainers” workshops for Global Visionaries
Seattle, WA – September 22, 2007 through January 19th, 2008.
Cheryl Harrison and Marc Weinblatt lead a series of training sessions to prepare youth leaders to facilitate T.O. based Anti-Oppression workshops. These select youth will then lead retreats in the winter and spring as part of Global Visionaries (GV) program for high school students who will participate in upcoming service trips to Guatemala. This continues our long-term relationship with GV, using T.O. and other participatory diversity education tools to generate dialogue around racism, sexism, classism, and imperialism as it relates to the students’ lives at home and as U.S. travelers in rural Central America.
Organized by Andrew Green – andgreen@gmail.com or http://www.global-visionaries.org

2) Diversity workshop for PATH
Seattle, WA – December 13, 2007.
Cheryl Harrison leads a session on diversity for staff of this global health organization.
Organized by Jeanette Lim – jlim@path.org

• “POETIC JUSTICE THEATRE ENSEMBLE” UPDATE & EVENTS
The Poetic Justice Theatre Ensemble, now in its 6th season as a community service project of the Mandala Center, christened the season on October 23rd with:

“OUT AND PROUD ON THE PENINSULA:
LGBTQUEER VISIBILITY - DOES IT EVEN MATTER?”
Celebrating LGBTQ History month in association with the Peninsula Pride Alliance. This event, for members of the LGBTQ community as well as friends, family, and allies explored how to create a safe and healthy community for all regardless of gender and/or sexual orientation.

After the New Year, Poetic Justice returns to the Boiler Room, Port Townsend’s youth driven coffee house and community center. This intergenerational dialogue is free and open to the general public. Please contact us, or the Boiler Room, for more information:

“MENDING THE GAP:
WHAT YOUTH WANT AND DON’T WANT FROM ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY”
When: Thursday, January 10th @ 4:30 PM
Where: The Boiler Room – 711 Water St., Port Townsend
Cost: Free (donations welcome to benefit the Boiler Room)
Info: info@mandalaforchange.com 360-344-3435 or the Boiler Room 360-385-8247

Though some of our interactive performances are open to the public, many are oriented for specific audiences around shared concerns. Poetic Justice’s mission is, in part, that of local community service so most of what we do is offered free of charge when in support of marginalized populations. Please let us know if your organization is interested in having us provide a performance / dialogue with your group. If you wish to be kept informed and possibly attend any Port Townsend area performances relevant to you, please make sure we have your e-mail and specify that we put you on our “LOCAL LIST.”

A dedicated multi-generational team, current members range in age from 14-79 years old – our widest age spread ever! Using a rare blend of Theatre of the Oppressed and Playback Theatre techniques, the troupe's focus is on stimulating community dialogue and inviting positive action around burning social issues. Current Poetic Justice Theatre Ensemble members are:

Erica Brunquist
Camille Hildebrandt
Sheila Khalov
Chelah MacCalla
Mickey McKinney
Raven McMillen
Daniel Nidzgorski
Julie Plachta
Alia Stevens
Zeke Wakefield (musician)
Marc Weinblatt