New University Area CDC Theater Program Helps Youth Tell Their Stories

The University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC) is launching its Community Voices Theater Program for youth, ages 13-17, thanks to a recent $5,319 grant and sponsorship from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

The fall program will begin Friday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the UACDC community center, located at 14013 North 22nd Street in Tampa. The group will meet every Friday from 6-8 p.m. through Dec. 13, with a community performance on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The UACDC Community Voices Theater Program is free to all youth from the 33612 and 33613 zip codes and will teach local youth to write their own stories in the form of a stage play during the fall, then to produce and perform their play in the following spring program. Students will learn creative writing, acting, directing, set design and construction, costume design, light and sound technologies and much more.

“We believe this program will help build youth leadership skills by promoting volunteerism, building social networks, enhancing the ability to work with others, teaching communication skills, increasing tolerance of others and building interpersonal ties,” said UACDC Director of Development, Ronnie Oliver.

UACDC leaders hope the Community Voices Theater Program will also strengthen the local economy by generating revenue through ticket sales, increasing patronage to local businesses and by giving community members a chance to participate in the arts.

Space is limited. To find out more information about the Community Voices Theater Program, contact Gloria Munoz at gloridamunoz@mail.usf.edu.

About UACDC
The University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC) is a 501(c)(3) public/private partnership whose mission is children and family development, crime prevention, and commerce growth. Its primary focus is the redevelopment and sustainability of the at-risk areas surrounding the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. The UACDC was named nonprofit of the year for public and societal benefit by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2011 and 2012. It is headquartered in the University Area Community Center Complex, owned by Hillsborough County and operated by the UACDC, which is located at 14013 North 22nd Street in Tampa. For more information about UACDC, please visit www.uacdc.org or call Dan Jurman at (813) 558-5212 ext. 208.

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