Augusto Boal

In Boal's work around forum theatre, invisible theatre and the theatre of the oppressed we see some fascinating expressions of socio-cultural animation. He writes of theatre as the art of looking at ourselves:
The Theatre of the Oppressed is theatre in this most archaic application of the word. In this usage, all human beings are Actors (they act!) and Spectators (they observe!). They are Spect-Actors.... Everything that actors do, we do throughout our lives, always and everywhere. Actors talk, move, dress to suit the setting, express ideas, reveal passions - just as we do in our everyday lives. The only difference is that actors are conscious that they are using the language of theatre, and are thus better able to turn it to their advantage, whereas the woman and man in the street do not know that they are speaking theatre. (Boal 1992: xxx).
In these words we can see some immediate connections to what we do as informal and community educators.
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-boal.htm

Project: Think Different

Using music, film, and video, P:TD partners with you to create, fine-tune and disseminate new cultural messages that promote positive action. We bring people together to:
• talk about how current issues and pop culture affects us and engage in action for positive change
• learn media technologies and techniques to define and develop a message in music, film and video
• access media channels to spread that message
P:TD is very involved in using hip-hop as a means of social activism.
http://www.projectthinkdifferent.org/interior/4offerings/4offers.htm

The Freechild Project

The mission of The Freechild Project is to advocate, inform, and celebrate social change led by and with young people around the world. We connect children, youth, and adults with a wide array of resources on social change led by and with young people. Our website features thousands of international examples, organizations, websites, and publications on youth action, youth engagement, youth activism, and youth empowerment.
Here at The Freechild Project we have heard a lot of talk about hip hop activism. Some people refer to hip hop as a tool for social change, others see it as a degrading force that alienates communities. Young people are using hip hop culture to reach and teach their communities about social justice and taking action.
http://www.freechild.org/hiphop.htm

For Youth Initiative (FYI)

For Youth Initiative (FYI) is a by youth for youth agency that uses popular culture to bring critical theory and social systemic change to the street.
FYI works in the former City of York and North Etobicoke areas of Toronto. Our initial mandate, as the For Youth Project (1996-2000), was to increase access to social recreational services. However, after our incorporation in 2000 and after staff turnover our mandate has expanded to include a variety of other services.
Currently, FYI works to increase youth capacity, encourage civic engagement, build life skills, community development, youth empowerment and other direct service provision. While initially our catchment area was limited to the former City of York, due to the high needs and the lack of services in the area, our programs and partnership projects have expanded our service delivery to North Etobicoke and other parts of West Toronto.
FYI works to increase access to social service, education, recreation, economic and cultural opportunities for youth with a view towards increased participation from ethno-cultural youth and youth from other diverse communities.
We believe that it is important to identify and respond to social issues which impact upon youth with an emphasis on collaborative responses, which incorporate youth and youth serving organizations. We attempt to develop and deliver services, or enhance services through collaborative efforts that serve as preventative measures in addressing issues associated with urban youth populations.
FYI attempts to provide capacity building opportunities to youth, through education, training and participation in other youth related initiatives, so they can more effectively act on their own behalf in systems change efforts, in attaining resources and in other youth related initiatives.
http://www.foryouthinitiative.com/

Community Arts Project (CAP)

Founded in 1977, CAP started as an organisation aimed at bringing people from different economic and racial backgrounds together around the making of art and staging of theatre. It worked very informally and during the 1980s positioned itself as a strongly political organisation - making T-shirts and posters and staging performances for organisations and groups opposed to the apartheid government. CAP played an important role in developing the visual and performing arts skills of workers from trade unions and political organisations in ways that would further the aims of the liberation movement. As well, many otherwise marginalized black artists launched their careers at CAP during this period.
http://www.museums.org.za/cap/

Taking Action: Teaching Participatory Community-based Theater – Kate Mendeloff

http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/2001/09/taking_action_t_4.php

Performing Communities: The Grassroots Ensemble Theater Research Project

CAN's inquiry into ensemble theater deeply rooted in eight U.S. communities
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archive/perfcomm/index.php