Lisa Jo Epstein–one of our CT4CT Master Class Presenters–just shared some great news: 
“I’m super excited to share that my article, ‘Democracy is in the Making: Just Act’s Model for Rehumanizing Community Engagement’ will be one of 16 chapters in ‘Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life,’ edited by Tom Borrup and Andrew Zitcer, long-time champions and observers of community-based creative and cultural practices. Given that I have never written about the past 33 years of working as a social practice applied theatre artist and facilitator, I decided that I would post excerpts from my article as a kind of sneak peek, testing the waters so to speak for a blog. Here’s how Tom and Andrew describe my article in their abstract:
“I’m super excited to share that my article, ‘Democracy is in the Making: Just Act’s Model for Rehumanizing Community Engagement’ will be one of 16 chapters in ‘Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life,’ edited by Tom Borrup and Andrew Zitcer, long-time champions and observers of community-based creative and cultural practices. Given that I have never written about the past 33 years of working as a social practice applied theatre artist and facilitator, I decided that I would post excerpts from my article as a kind of sneak peek, testing the waters so to speak for a blog. Here’s how Tom and Andrew describe my article in their abstract:‘In this chapter, the author reflects on her journey leading Just Act, an applied theatre, arts and story-based catalyst for healing, change and activism to build a just world. Inherent in Just Act’s work is a critique of community engagement as traditionally practiced in urban planning and public policy. Community engagement, by emphasizing inclusion without belonging, without a commitment to social justice, views residents as beneficiaries rather than active leaders and deciders. By contrast, Just Act orients its work from an arts-and justice-informed paradigm. This chapter chronicles the author’s innovative work planning with community residents for the renovation of a youth and senior recreation center in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout, the chapter meditates on democracy as an evolving, embodied process, rather than an end goal.'”
