Speak Up Programs

Take a “Chance”

About Chance’s Speak Up programs

For over a decade, the Chance has been helping our community to find their voice and “speak up” about their lives and experiences. We give them the opportunity to speak so that we have the opportunity to listen. Greater understanding fosters greater empathy. Through these programs, we hope to contribute to a more connected, compassionate, and creative community.

Open to all students grades 7th – 12th.

For teens with high functioning Autism, Asperger’s, or PDD-NOS.

For all local Orange County Veterans.

Collaborative Storytelling

Through story circles, improv games, and writing exercises, people learn the fundamentals of storytelling and have a ton of fun. For 5-6 weeks, they work collaboratively with their peers from all over the county to write, design, and perform a new play!

Learn Self-expression

By participating in all elements of constructing and producing a new play (playwriting, acting, design, marketing, etc.), under the guidance of Chance staff, professional designers and professional actors and our program director, the participants take ownership of every aspect of a creating original theatrical work, and learn that theater can be a powerful means for self-expression.

Additionally, during the process, they also gain confidence, grow a sense of community, as well as learn leadership, team-building, communication, and public speaking skills.

21st Century Skills

Studies show that developing “21st Century Skills,” which include problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, dealing with ambiguity and complexity, integration of multiple skill sets, and the ability to perform cross-disciplinary tasks, is in decline due to the loss of many arts programs in schools.

By teaching these skills to our students, they will personally benefit and, ultimately, our community will benefit ten-fold as they mature and join the workforce with these skills.

Let us help you tell your story

Bring Speak Up to You

Think our Speak Up program could help your group?

It not only was entertaining to an audience, it was healing for us. Each one of us. To very strong degrees. As I look back on it, we aren’t the same after the play is over with. We’re better. We really, really, really, really have experienced a catharsis. A readiness to have people hear us, finally, about our experiences and we get it out.
Ronnie G., U.S. Army

It wasn’t just going onstage, it was overcoming some fears. I’m not a public speaker, but when you speak from your heart, I think it resonates. And going onstage for the first time, I remember how emotional many of us were telling some of our stories.
Martin V., U.S. Air Force

Frank Barry, David Lopez, and Martin Ventress perform special excerpts from an original Veterans Speak Up show at Anaheim Central Library on December 19, 2022.

Support Our Speak Up programs

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, all our veterans have received full scholarships to participate. To support this program, please make a donation of any amount or consider volunteering.

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