| Alexander Santiago-Jirau is an educator, advocate
and theatre artist committed to the use of theatre for youth and
community development. He has been a Theatre of the Oppressed
practitioner for eight years, studying and working with Augusto Boal
and facilitating multiple workshops with queer youth, youth in foster
care, and diverse immigrant communities. He is the President-Elect of
Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed and Board member since 2007.
After receiving a degree in Urban Studies from Cornell University, Alex
has worked in neighborhood planning, environmental justice, teacher
recruitment for Teach For America and youth development for Mentoring
USA. Currently, he is Senior Program Associate at The Center for Arts
Education, where he counsels youth pursuing arts careers and leads
professional development workshops for New York City public school
educators. He is currently a Master's candidate in Educational Theatre
at New York University, focusing on Theatre of the Oppressed, applied
theatre and drama in education. Email Alex at alex@theforumproject.org. | S. Leigh Thompson
is a community organizer,
advocate and artist and has spent the last decade working for the queer
movement and for trans rights. He has worked studied Theatre of the
Oppressed techniques for eight years and has worked with Augusto Boal
on three separate occasions. In 2005 and 2006 Leigh served on the Board
of Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed. In addition to working at the
Empire State Pride Agenda and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
LGBT & AIDS Project, Thompson currently works at GLSEN, the Gay,
Lesbian and Straight Education Network as a student advocacy organizer.
He has worked with many
different communities, including refugees, survivors of sexual
violence, transgender people, and is currently dedicated to working
with and for trans people and queer youth. Leigh has a degree in
Theatre with an emphasis in Directing, and is currently a Master's
candidate at Gallatin at New York University, focusing on utilising
Theatre of the Oppressed for policial and social change. Email Leigh
at leigh@theforumproject.org. |
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