“Being a part of theater has been really therapeutic for me. I’ve realized how important it is for us to tell our stories. If I can get up there and do it, maybe other people can let go of their shame too.”
– Sandra, Mayfair resident and mother
Learn more about Sandra.
Community Engagement
Our Community Engagement work has three components: Popular Theater, Community Events, and Popular Education.
Popular Theater
Using popular theater we demonstrate many of the issues facing us as a community, facilitate dialogue so that we can learn from one another, and identify ways we can begin to take action.
Popular theater uses stories and images as codes to mirror the conflicts that arise in people’s everyday lives. While the actors don’t give answers, they work with the community to come up with its own solutions to the problems presented.
Somos Mayfair has worked with popular theater since 2004, beginning with our staff promotores as actors, then broadening to include Mayfair residents through Familias Unidas de Mayfair (Mayfair Families United). We share our theater performances and workshops throughout the community and region: at schools, health fairs, community centers, and in people’s living rooms. We have been invited to present at conferences on immigrant rights, community health and popular education. View videos, download scripts, and learn more about our Popular Theater work.
Community Events
Our Community Engagement work also includes organizing community-wide events to celebrate the cultural heritage of Mayfair’s residents, including annual Mother's Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Posada and Pastorela events. Learn more about these events.
Popular Education Workshops
We design and facilitate popular education workshops that accompany our theater work regarding health justice, immigrant rights and early childhood development. We create participatory, creative and engaging spaces for community residents to enter deeply into dialogue and analysis about relevant issues to their lives. If you would like to invite us to facilitate a workshop, present one of our theater performances, or join us as a volunteer or actor, please contact us.