Red Ladder Theatre Company

AS A SOCIAL JUSTICE THEATRE COMPANY FOUNDED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MOST ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL IS THE CREATIVE SPIRIT, RED LADDER EXISTS TO CONNECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THEIR OWN CREATIVITY - IGNITING THEIR IMAGINATIONS AND AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES - EMPOWERING THEM TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.

ARTS IN CORRECTIONSRED LADDER THEATRE COMPANY SERVES BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS EXPERIENCING INCARCERATION, WITH GREAT SUCCESS. THESE PARTICIPANTS HAVE OFTEN GRAPPLED WITH MULTIPLE AND INTER-RELATED ISSUES SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE, LITERACY AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS, EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES, TROUBLED OR ABUSIVE HOME LIVES, HOUSING INSTABILITY AND THE LIKE, AND OFTEN LACK THE RESOURCES TO AID THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THEIR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES. THROUGH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TECHNIQUES AND RED LADDERS FOCUS ON CREATIVE COLLABORATION IN AN ATMOSPHERE FREE FROM JUDGEMENT, PARTICIPANTS IMPACTED BY THE CARCERAL SYSTEM ARE ABLE TO VISUALIZE OPPORTUNITIES, IMAGINE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, AND DISCOVER WITHIN THEMSELVES THE STRENGTH TO TRANSFORM THEIR DREAMS INTO REALITY.

YOUTH ENGAGMENT PROGRAMSRED LADDER PROVIDES A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THIS INCLUDES WORK WITH YOUTH IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM, WORK WITH STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM OR IN SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO GIVE CHILDREN A LEG UP WHEN MAKING THE TRANSITION TO A NEW SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, AND WORK WITH YOUTH IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SETTINGS. RED LADDER HAS BECOME A LEADER IN PERFORMING ARTS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND USES THE POWER OF THE ARTS TO REACH STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNING STYLES, AND TO HELP THEM MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THE COMPANY HAS DEVELOPED A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES THAT MEET THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS (VAPA) STANDARDS AND ARE IN LINE WITH THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS (CCSS). FURTHER, RED LADDER SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTES CURRICULUM BASED ON THE STUDIO THINKING FRAMEWORK/STUDIO HABITS OF MIND WITH ITS PARTICIPANTS.

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMSRED LADDER PROVIDES CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY - FROM SENIORS IN OUR JAPANTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, NEURO-ATYPICAL ADULTS, OR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THE INTERSECTIONAL EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY, HOUSING INSECURITY AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES. THROUGH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH SERVICE AGENCIES WHO WORK WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS ON A DAILY BASIS, RED LADDER WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE BEING MET, AND THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM, LASTING AND MEANINGFUL PRO-SOCIAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT.