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YOUTH TRUTH at The Massachusetts State House

YOUTH TRUTH: The People That Shape Us

Tuesday, May 16th 3:30-4:30pm

At the Massachusetts State House
Great Hall of Flags
24 Beacon Street, Boston

A Creative Youth Development collaboration between
Enchanted Circle Theater and The Treehouse Foundation

What’s it like to grow up in foster care?

YOUTH TRUTH is an inspiring original performance blending poetry, music, storytelling, and visual arts that shares powerful wisdom, emotion and truth.

How can caring adults help shape the lives of children who experience foster care in positive ways?

Come find out!

Youth Truth is a creative youth development collaboration presented by the Treehouse Foundation and Enchanted Circle Theater. Funded by a YouthReach grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council, Youth Truth is a platform for youth to advocate for themselves and for the community about what foster care is, what it is not, and what it can be. The performance is FREE. We welcome the community, legislators, arts and business leaders, families, youth in care and foster care alumni, and staff of the Department of Children & Families to attend.

“Youth Truth feels like a family for me. Here I know that everyone cares about me, and that my story matters.”

Youth Truth performer

Launched in 2010, HEROES empowers youth to build community and help create a better foster care system. Young people ages 14 – 24 who have experienced foster care build community, develop life skills, support educational and social success, and get exposure to college opportunities. Using the arts and outdoor adventure as tools for growth, HEROES promotes healing, build competence, self-esteem and enhance resilience.

“HEROES youth are an amazing community of support. As a youth-led group, their goal is to teach people about their experiences and to create positive change in our foster care system. They have a powerful message.”

Sage Curtis, HEROES Director

“We’ve been collaborating with Treehouse since 2007, and are thrilled to see the depth and quality of creative expression generated by HEROES Youth. The arts are a powerful leadership development tool. Youth Truth is an inspiring performance and a transformational experience for both the youth and their audiences.”

Priscilla Kane Hellweg, Executive Artistic Director, Enchanted Circle Theater

Youth Truth has been nominated for a 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.