Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecelia Kouma.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cecelia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always loved the written word and immersed myself in books from an early age, mostly to avoid the chaos of growing up with eight brothers and sisters. I loved imagining myself in each story, creating extra scenes in the worlds the authors created. When I discovered theatre in high school, I was overcome by the joy of sharing those worlds with other actors and then with a responsive audience. At the same time, I was drawn to education, first as a summer camp counselor and eventually as a teaching artist.
After earning a degree in theatre, I learned the business end of nonprofit management to assure I had a steady income, while I pursued theatre and teaching on the side. I discovered Playwrights Project in 2000 and was hired as Managing Director by Founder Deborah Salzer and transition to Executive Director when Deborah retired in 2007. At Playwrights Project, I’ve been able to bring my passion for theatre and nonprofit business skills together.
Introducing live theatre to those who had never experienced it is rewarding, but guiding individuals to become the creators of their own worlds through playwriting is absolutely transformative. It unleashes a wisdom and power and compassion that one rarely has the opportunity to tap into. And when they see their plays brought to life by professional actors, the joy on their faces is the best reward imaginable. Whether the playwrights in our groups are students who think they hate writing or adult men incarcerated in state prisons, each writer discovers something of value in themselves through the process of crafting their ideas into plays. They have to envision their main character’s motivations, as well as their antagonists, and find ways to work through the conflicts in their stories. It forces a deeper understanding of ourselves and of others that we, or at least our characters, encounter.
Has it been a smooth road?
Balancing the management and fundraising necessary to run a successful nonprofit is always challenging, and arts education has even greater challenges than other nonprofit services. The arts are always the first subject cut in schools when funding is tight. We’ve expanded and retracted based on the economy and trends in education and social services. We keep a tight budget by not having a program venue of our own, but instead partnering on all of our workshops, residencies and performances. It’s not always easy, but it makes for richer connections to the community and a wonderful network of colleagues within the theatre and education communities and across sectors into social services and public safety.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Playwrights Project – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The mission of Playwrights Project is to advance literacy, creativity, and communication by empowering individuals to voice their stories through playwriting programs and theatre productions.
Playwrights Project is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization devoted to arts education. Founded in 1985, Playwrights Project reaches up to 10,000 people annually through programs proven to:
- Teach the power of spoken and written language
- Nurture promising young writers
- Develop theatre artists and audiences
- Champion thoughtful communication
- Encourage creative problem solving
- Inspire lifelong learning
- Cultivate empathy
- Honor wisdom and past experience
- Deepen a sense of belonging
- Strengthen connections between and within communities
Playwrights Project accomplishes these goals by providing playwriting workshops in schools and underserved communities, producing community readings, conducting the annual California Young Playwrights Contest for writers under the age of 19, and professionally producing winning scripts in its annual festival of Plays by Young Writers.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The diversity of San Diego is extraordinary and wonderful. The stories are as varied as can be. It is a beautiful mosaic to be celebrated. Yet, the disparities between the haves and have nots can be heartbreaking. For those without adequate resources, the daily struggles make it difficult to enjoy the experiences many of us take for granted… the opportunity to speak and be heard, to examine experiences and beliefs and express them through the arts, to celebrate our shared humanity and imagine possibilities beyond the day to day grind. Playwrights Project empowers individuals to voice their stories, to discover hidden talents and to find connections to others they may not have otherwise known.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3675 Ruffin Road, Ste. 330
- Website: http://playwrightsproject.org/
- Phone: 8583842970
- Email: write@playwrightsproject.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playwrightsproject/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaywrightsProject/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaywrightsProj
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/PlaywrightsProject
Image Credit:
Ken Jacques
Geri Goodale
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
