The Faison Firehouse Respect Project PDF Print E-mail
The Faison Firehouse Respect Project, created and directed by Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer George Faison, weaves together such pertinent issues as teenage pregnancy, absentee parents, date rape, racism, poverty, peer pressure, illiteracy, cultural identity, community, gang crime and violence, in a way that allows youth audiences to see their own lives reflected in a moving, intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking theatrical production which leads to further exploration of the issues and desired discourse and discussion. Through intensive workshops and personal exploration the young performers (mostly New York City high school students) create a program to help audience members discover their ability and responsibility to choose a positive life course and realize new approaches to coping with daily challenges. 
        Since its inception, students and faculty alike have given high praise to The Faison Firehouse Respect Project. Claudia Resch, a teacher at Richard R. Green High School caught the project’s essence in her words—“many students deal with the social issues that you explored but, unfortunately, these issues are rarely discussed. It is essential that young people respect themselves and others to create a fulfilled and successful life. This performance was unique, memorable, and an exciting way to learn invaluable information that will enhance the lives of young people.” 
         A SPARK Intervention Specialist at Taft High School said The Faison Firehouse Respect Project “empowers students to forge forward in pursuit of their schooling, career goals, decision making, future family planning and responsibilities on a safe social level in the community where they live.” This is the reaction we receive at virtually every school, juvenile detention center and community based organization where the project performs.
        The philosophical basis for The Faison Firehouse Respect Project stems from the work of Harvard professor Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot. Dr. Lawrence-Lightfoot has studied the culture of schools and attributes the violence in many schools today to an underdeveloped concept of respect. The Faison Firehouse Respect Project explores this concept through a riveting show of song, dance and spoken word that demonstrates a powerful and unique way that youth can reach out to each other and transcend their environments and stereotypical notions of their potential to make a difference in their own lives as well as the lives of others.  
         There is no doubt that with the current state of our youth and schools, an effective means of dealing with the issues they face is needed. The Faison Firehouse Respect Project is one program that has proven itself as a force in the fight against violence, sex, drugs and the overall lack of self respect that is afflicting our youth. Through collaborative efforts with other non-profit organizations and educational institutions the project has been able to sustain itself and grow.


To see video footage click here!                           

       

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