A Portland Community College student group will tackle racism and other barriers for students through a series of interactive theater performances.
The Illumination Project, a student leadership and education program designed to foster a climate of equality and compassion, is hosting performances designed to encourage audience participation. They focus on solving the issues that traditionally have made access and retention in higher education more difficult for students of color, women, the poor and working class, immigrants and sexual minorities. Performances run from Feb. 16 to March 6.
The project allows audience members to intervene on the scenarios presented to better understand the project's message. Recently, the Ford Foundation awarded the project a $100,000 grant to promote constructive dialogue at PCC.
The plays will be held in the Performing Arts Center Lobby on the college's Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave., except for the March 2 performance. The schedule is:
• 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16;
• 9:30 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21;
• 10 to 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22;
• Noon to 1:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23;
• 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27;
• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28;
• 1 to 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, March 1;
• 2 to 3:20 p.m. Thursday, March 2;
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday March 2, in the Terrell Hall Room 122; Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth St.; and
• Noon to 1:20 p.m. Monday, March 6.
The Illumination Project is a program of PCC's Sylvania Women's Resource and Multicultural centers. For more information, call 503-977-8149.
