PROJECT DESIRE - MIAMI
PROJECT DESIRE - MIAMI is an intensive art and activism program designed to give economically disadvantaged Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Straight at-risk youth ages 13-19 years an opportunity to learn the basics of performance and physical theater, as well as perform street theater in and around Miami Dade County and Miami Beach.
This program will teach youth HIV/STD awarness and precautions, provide HIV/STD testing as well as emphasize sex-positive behavior through youth performances and partnership with local and national health service organizations such as National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC -www.nyacyouth.org) and local health service organizations. We are part of with NYAC's 'You Know Different" Campaign which seeks to develop social marketing strategies for African-American sexual minority youth and other sexual and ethic minorities. This program -it's workshops and subsequent public performances are free to participants and to the community.

When: The program begins on September 17, 2007
Performances will take place on September 29, 2007, at FIU South Campus and on October 25, 26, 27, 2007 at the Carnival Center for the Performing Artsthe last two weeks in March.

Where: The workshops will be held at Pridelines Youth Services while street theater performances will be held at locations in and around Miami Dade County and Miami Beach where at risk GLBTQ and Straight youth populations hang-out, parks, schools, teen 'clubs' and specifically at locations where at risk sexual behavior has been documented -such as parking lots, empty buildings being remodeled and teen 'club' etc.

Who: Our target audiences are primarily GLBTQS youth ages 13-19, twenty-somethings and by virtue of the performance locations the public at large. Our principal participants are GLBTQS youth ages 13-19, acclaimed activist and dance theater artist Octavio Campos, the staff of Pridelines Youth Services, National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth which includes the followiing partners: Switchboard of Miami, Yes Institute, Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Jewish Community Services (JCS) and Equality Florida.

Why: The statistics of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among youth are extensive and staggering -specifically among the disadvantaged sexual and ethnic minorities. While most material provided to youth is educational and 'dry' by the County providing funding for this project we are placing the information, material and resources in a cultural entertaining and interactive context.

For 24 years Pridelines has dedicated itself to empowering youth by providing a safe, supportive, fun and educational environment for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender,questioning and straight allies (GLBTQS) youth ages 13-19 in South Florida - all in an effort to help break the isolation that places this population at a higher risk for drug addiction, HIV/STD infectoin, homelessness, prostitution, school truancy due to harassment, and suicide. Pridelines is the first point of entry for these youth. Due to our partnerships with other organizations such as the Alliance for GLBTQ youth (named above), NYAC and activist/artist Octavio Campos we are able not only to provide theater and performance skills to our youth but to provide educational information, resources and support to the community at large.This project is modeled after the very successful Street Theater Named Desire and Fenway Community Health project in Boston, Mass.

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Actors | Activists - Street Theater Named Desire - Boston, MA - The Theater Offensive (2006)
We need your HELP!!!
Funds and volunteers are requested to support cultural programming in the form of this eight to ten week intensive program designed to give economically disadvantaged Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Straight at-risk youth ages 13-19 years an opportunity to learn the basics of performance and physical theater, as well as perform street theater in and around Miami Dade County and Miami Beach. This program will teach youth HIV/STD awarness and precautions as well as emphasize sex-positive behavior through performance and partnership with local and national health service organizations. This program is free for participants.

If interested in sponsoring or volunteering for the project please contact us.