New AFP story project by Artpark Bridges-People Inc

Photo: Jordan Oscar, Artpark

The Director of Artpark Bridges, Cynthia Pegado and AFP teaching artist, Jeannine Giffear, facilitated a story build with adults living with disabling conditions and special needs in the People Inc. day habilitation program. Utilizing AFP’s communal story-building methodology, Jeannine and Cynthia helped the group to express deeply-felt concerns for those struggling through the conflict of war, displacement, and loss of home. After eight weeks, The Arts Experience culminated with a showing at the AFP on-campus village in December.

During the story building process, the village heart-stormed their responses to quotes from people currently living in crisis: “[I]n daylight a candle flame isn’t appreciated but in darkness suddenly the candle flame has deep meaning.” The People Inc. village shared their message of positive action, Together We Can Light the Way, a story about a Dreamwork Village and its inhabitants, whose beautiful and peaceful place is threatened and destroyed by the angry stranger, Tornado. One nonverbal cast member created the key character named Candle Flame, using sound and gesture.

Artpark Bridges is Artpark’s year-round community engagement program dedicated to connecting people of all abilities and backgrounds with empowerment, integration and healing through the arts. The Anne Frank Project has proudly partnered with Artpark Bridges since 2020 with a joint mission to surface the expressive voices of non-traditional populations whose stories traditionally get left untold.