Teaching Teens To Build Hammers Home A Message

Teaching Teens To Build Hammers Home A Message

Teenagers in Washington, D.C., face tough odds getting a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of those looking for work can't find it which is the highest rate in the country. Sasha Bruce Youthwork, an organization that works with troubled teens in the district, is trying to address that problem by training young people in the construction trades. The group has enlisted an army of volunteers and a handful of trainees for what it calls a "blitz build" an effort to rebuild a gutted house in a single day. The Sasha Bruce Youthwork program is trying to place 10 to 15 of its current trainees in internships, with the hope that those positions will lead to full-time jobs. Eighty percent of the program's alumni are currently employed or have gone on to more schooling.

It’s heartening to hear that programs like this exist. Now all we need to do is expand on them and incorporate them into educational structure. When a full 2/3rds of population will never attend college, it seems absurd to provide a college prep program for everyone. It is far better to acknowledge this reality and provide practical route that will lead to success. It certainly is a good feeling to know how to build something, and trade unions will be happy to see more folks joining their ranks. The downsides are that the construction industry took a huge hit during the recession, and it will take a few years before job opportunities return to normal. And even then, this kind of work tends to be seasonal. 

By Anna Krause

Reflection of my Journey at People’s Light & Theatre

Reflection of my Journey at People’s Light & Theatre

In the spring of 2012 I got to have an experience I will never forget. I was a house management intern for People’s Light & Theatre. I got to work alongside the most dedicated workers I ever met. Throughout this experience I learned some things I wouldn’t of learned without this experience. Along with the skills I learned I also had some challenges that came along for the ride. I learned how a concession stand works and I even got to help sell snacks at intermission. Throughout this learning experience I learned how to add without using a calculator. That was a huge success for me because in the past I had trouble with adding and subtracting without a calculator. I also got a chance to Photoshop some pictures for them, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I learned to be patient if there was traffic and other obstacles. I also learned to not worry as much as I use to. In the beginning of the internship I got worried if something changed or I forgot something or I didn’t understand how to do the job for that day. I have to say the my worries have been going down because I learned that worrying never solves an issue and I know I am still working on it but I have made a huge improvement. I also learned to communicate in a clearer way and enunciate my words so people can understand them. I also learned to go outside of my comfort zone and I have to say sometimes its better to step outside your comfort zone. Most of all I learned what working in a theatre is all about. For example: I learned that its not just the actors and directors that keep the theatre going. Actually every single person makes a huge difference in the theatre in different ways. In other words People’s Light & Theatre works as a team.

My part of the team was to arrive at 9:30 and check in with Sara. When I got there I had to get ready for the students to arrive and when they arrived my job was gum patrol. Which means I made sure I told the students to spit out any gum they have. Gum patrol is always important because if we don’t have a gum patrol then most likely students and audience members will stick their gum under the seats.
Which is gross especially if you sit on a seat with gum that isn’t yours. This duty also helps the audience show respect for the theatre. When I was done with that I usually brought a class assignment to work on until it was time to set up for intermission. My jobs while setting up for intermission was to help carry the supplies down to the lobby and then setup the table with the snacks organized. I also made a tracking sheet which helped me visualize the amount of everything we sold and the amount the snacks cost. After intermission I helped clean up the table for intermission and I also helped my coworkers with carrying the leftover snacks to the upstairs lobby. I also helped put the snacks away so they are ready for the next show. These were my duties when I was part of the team at the theatre.

My duties were important to others and myself. My duties as the House Management intern helped me communicate to the audience members and my coworkers. Throughout my duties I discovered my self confidence which I needed. I think communicating through customer service, and a comfortable environment helped me figure out that I shouldn’t worry about what other people think about me. On my last day as an usher I decided I would step out of my comfort zone. Instead of keeping track of the snacks we sold I was in charge of the money which was a huge success for myself because I made this decision on my own when Sara asked me what I would like to be in charge of. At that moment I took initiative and decided that if I don’t try it now then I won’t ever have this chance again and how will I learn if I don’t try new things. So I tried something a little new which was outside my comfort zone. Actually, I am glad I did because I feel proud and confident.

Overall, People’s Light & Theatre helped me discover who I really am and helped set my goals in life but it also helped me accomplish things I never thought I was capable of doing.

People's Light & Theatre Shipwrecked Review

Shipwrecked Review

By Anna Krause

A “kaleidoscope of theatricality” is one way to describe the production of Shipwrecked at People’s Light & Theatre.

Shipwrecked is very colorful in many aspects of the performance. There are hand manipulated puppets that are used by the three actors: Graham Smith, James Ijames, and Mary McCool. They also use Foley, which is a creative way of making sounds from props in the scenes. If you saw the movies Annie, and Sea Biscuit you would have seen examples of Foley.

People’s Light & Theatre takes this play and uses surprising and simple ways to incorporate the whole stage to the audience. Some ways of doing this were when Louis de Rougemont started talking about the stars. When he spotted Cassiopeia, the constellation, the place on the arch lit up which showed Cassiopeia.  

During the performance the fourth wall is totally obliterated.

People’s Light & Theatre is really working their magic because once you walk into the doors you leave your troubles behind and only focus on the show. This really shows they are dedicated to their audience members and they find creative and simple ways to share the storyline.

Shipwrecked has many different ways to describe life. The moral of the story is to never disguise the truth. Another structure of the play revolves around how sometimes in life you come across hard decisions that you have to make.  The other structure that stood out was just simply how family life affects your daily life in good and bad ways.

Shipwrecked is non-stop action and is good for all ages because it stimulates you brain which everyone needs now and then.

The one character that stood out was Bruno who was played by James Ijames. Bruno was the funniest character in the whole play because James really stepped into his part and made the audience grow more attached to Bruno as the play went on. He even plays fetch with Louis. What more can you ask for?

James also plays many other characters during the performance. They are Gunda, Bobo, an Australian Prospector, a society lady, Albert, Queen Victoria, a turtle expert,  a wombat expert, Dr. Leopold, a newsboy, a reporter, and a Lawyer.

If you are looking for a creative way to spend some time this is the place for you. You won’t be disappointed.