Name of organization:
Intersections International, The United States of America
Description of organization:
Intersections International is a New York based youth umbrella-organization seeking to forge a common ground to promote justice, peace, and reconciliation from 2007. By using arts immersion, social marketing, intentional dialogue and other innovative methods, Intersections’ work includes projects that promote pluralism in emerging democracies, eradicate ignorance regarding Islam, nurture global peacemakers, dismantle systemic discrimination against the LGBT community and initiate conversations among disparate groups to develop new ways of problem solving for some of society’s most intractable issues.
Project description:
The mission of the TE’A Project (Theatre Engagement and Action) was to inspire young artists to turn their talents, intelligence, and commitment to the challenge of helping communities transform the conflicts that divide them. The focus of the TE’A Project was on fostering “mutual understanding, respect, and long-term positive relationships” among Muslim and non-Muslim youth in America. This was reached through the creation of the performance “Under the veil: Being Muslim (and Non-Muslim) in America, post 9/11”. In addition to the performance, the TE’A artists also conducted Insight Conversations with Muslim youth in the National Capital Area and workshops with visiting artists in order to expand the work. Small focus groups of Muslims and non-Muslims were engaged to deepen understandings of the issues raised by the project and its performances. In total 58 youth were involved. At the end of the process, a webisode was created with 7 training videos focusing on ‘how to conduct an Insight Conversation’. Following the project implementation, the TE’A’s Coordinator shared: “…One of the unexpected and truly exciting aspects of this process has been the life the TE’A Company NYC’s project, Under the Veil: Being Muslim (and non-Muslim) in NYC, Post 9/11, has continued to have. The members of the TE’A Company NYC, have expressed a sincere desire to continue performing Under the Veil…and we are in the process of applying for funding to enable the Company to embark on a 9-month tour. Through the generous partnership of the UNAOC, over 1,300 youth were able to partake in the TE’A Project. Without the support of the UNAOC, this would never have been possible.”
Webisodes about “Under the Veil” and the TE’A process, can be found here, while pictures from the project are available here.
Contact information:
sreef@intersectionsinternational.org
Website:
www.IntersectionsInternational.org; www.teaproject.com