Fringe Benefits Theatre recieved a grant to support their two current youth leadership programs: A. Their “Creative Tools for Critical Times”/CT4CT multi-school, multi-community arts for civic engagement initiative comprising workshops, internship trainings, performing arts showcases, a web-based video series, and a webinar series led by leaders in the field of Community-Based Arts. These workshops serve approximately 900 people, primarily youth. B. Their “Join Forces & Create Change!” Theatre for Social Justice Residency bringing together middle school youth in Southern California and in Irpin, Ukraine. This residency serves 30 local middle school youth participants, 25 youth participants in Ukraine, and approximately 1,250 local middle school audience members.
Fringe Benefits is an educational theatre company dedicated to early hate crime prevention. Their mission is to replace hate with understanding through collaboratively created plays, videos and programs that promote constructive dialogue about diversity and discrimination issues. They are committed to opening hearts and minds and promoting progressive action around a wide array of social justice issues including racism, sexism, classism, ableism, ageism, and immigration rights. Fringe Benefits Theatre received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in February 2021.