Storytelling Theater
for Healing and Social Justice
Register for an upcoming Storytelling Theater performance here.
The mission of Storytelling Theater for Healing and Social Justice is to give Asian Americans a voice by providing a space and courageous space to share their stories, immigrant identities, and mental health experiences. Storytelling Theater will achieve this through interactive theater, which is based on the works of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. Theater of the Oppressed uses theater as a means to promote social change and critical thinking. Ultimately, Storytelling is going to use short theater plays and performances to address, highlight, and bring awareness to the intersection between U.S. Asian immigrant identities and mental health to celebrate our cultures. Last, Storytelling Theater wants to use these theatrical plays to educate Asian Americans and greater communities on the importance of immigration about their cultural identities, rights, and mental health.
The goal of the Storytelling Theater for Healing and Social Justice is to reach, educate, and increase knowledge about mental health issues and services by utilizing a non-stigmatizing and empowering method that aims to accomplish the following objectives:
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Increase awareness and knowledge related to mental health illness and combat stigma and discrimination within the Asian American community.
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Provide resources and information regarding available mental health services in Los Angeles County, especially those services geared towards the Asian American community.
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Encourage help-seeking behaviors and provide linkage to mental health services, whenever possible, when encountering individuals in need in the community.
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Build and strengthen the confidence of Asian American community members so that they can be better equipped to face the challenges and barriers associated with having a loved one who suffers from a mental health condition.
Register for an upcoming Storytelling Theater performance here.
Storytelling Theater is a non-clinical mental health project and is not a support or therapy group. The intention and purpose are to normalize mental health conversations within the Asian American community.
Storytelling Theater is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
REGISTER for the Upcoming Performances
STORYTELLING THEATER PRESENTS...
RED DOORS
Red Doors is a theatrical performance that explores mental health and intergenerational conflict. The color red is auspicious in many Asian cultures. However, behind this beautiful color lie many challenges that Asians and Asian Americans experience. Due to mental health stigmas and cultural norms like “saving face,” many of these challenges are hidden and not addressed. As a result, many Asians and Asian Americans have suffered in silence.
Throught interactive theater and discussion, Red Doors performances and workshops aim to break down the barriers surrounding mental health stigma and inspire people to feel more comfortable talking about their mental health.
Below is the list of the upcoming performances/workshops. Please register for the Red Doors show(s) you want to attend! Thank you!
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Asian Youth Center: Thursday, Aug 15 from 10 am to 11:30 am. Address: 100 Clary Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91776
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Taiwan Center: Saturday, Aug 17 from 11 am to 12:30 am. Address: 3001 Walnut Grove Ave. Rosemead, CA 91770
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Visual Communications: Saturday, Aug 17 from 3 pm to 4:30 pm. Address: 120 Judge John Aiso St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
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Pacific Clinics: Tuesday, Aug 20 from 10 am to 11:30 pm. Address: 18623 Gale Ave, City of Industry, CA 91748
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Langley Center: Wednesday, Aug 21 from 12 pm to 1:15 pm. Address: 400 W Emerson Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754
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Gardena Buddhist Church: Saturday, Aug 24 from 10 am to 11:30 am Address: 1517 166th St, Gardena, CA 90247
Special THANKS to our collaborators and supporters:
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Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers
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Asian Youth Center
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Cambodia Town
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Center for the Pacific Asian Family
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CultiAsian at UCLA
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Gardena Buddhist Church
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JACL National - LA Office
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Langley Center
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Pacific Clinics
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Pacific Asian Counseling Services
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Taiwan Center
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The Asian American Drug Abuse Program
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Visual Communications
Contact Info:
JR Kuo, Director
jrkuo.1000cranesforrecovery@gmail.com
Natalie Lortz, Lead Coordinator natalie.1000cranesforrecovery@gmail.com
*Storytelling Theater is a non-clinical mental health project and is not a support or therapy group. The intention and purpose are to normalize mental health conversations within the Asian American community.
For the Community
We're looking for community organizations to partner and host Storytelling Theater workshops for their stakeholders, members, and/or staff.
Storytelling Theater is non-clinical. The workshop, facilitator, and actors will provide a safe, welcoming, courageous, and professional space for participants to appreciate and explore mental health from a new and different perspective.
Who Can Benefit from Storytelling Theater?
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Staff Member: Storytelling Theater can be incorporated as part of your organizational professional training to educate your staff about Asian/Asian American identities, immigration stories, and mental health.
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Community Members and Stakeholders: Storytelling Theater workshop utilizes innovative, creative, non-stigmatizing, interactive, and culturally appropriate methods to address mental health and other vital issues relevant to Asian Americans. Thus, it can serve as an excellent alternative workshop for your community members and stakeholders, fostering increased awareness and knowledge about mental health illness and combating stigma and discrimination within the Asian American community.
If your organization is interested in partnering up, please contact:
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JR Kuo, Director
jrkuo.1000cranesforrecovery@gmail.com
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Natalie Lortz, Lead Coordinator natalie.1000cranesforrecovery@gmail.com
Storytelling Theater for Healing and Social Justice is sponsored by
the Los Angeles County
Department of Mental Health.
