Local LISTENS:
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Local Listens is a community-inspired new play initiative that focuses on a single social issue for one year. In an increasingly-digital world, Local Listens intentionally gathers community members in a room, face-to-face, for important, informative, and illuminating conversations. These story circles, held at the beginning of every season, inspire short plays that are presented at the conclusion of the season. In order to enrich the experience for you, our audience, throughout the season we showcase a traveling portrait gallery featuring story circle participants. Each portrait is accompanied with an audio recording of a story the subject shared. Listen to these stories and discover the humans behind these complex issues. A resource guide is provided, offering unbiased context.

Research shows that people understand, remember, and act on complex social issues more effectively when they are conveyed through lived experience rather than abstract data. Stories increase empathy, reduce resistance to difficult topics, and foster shared understanding across differences making them a powerful tool for civic dialogue and social change.

Local Listens seeks to build bridges across the chasm of community divides. 

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Local Listens: Queer Lineage is supported in part by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, the Alex Wilson Fund, and Cassandra Simon. Interested in supporting this project? Email Executive Director Misha S. Zimmerman HERE.