"Our youth are some of the toughest youth to work with and it thrilled me to see the young people engaging in the activities, to the point where they could move from what looks like boredom, attitude, fear, into releasing their own brilliance, creativity and intelligence."                      

- Ruben Austria, BronxConnect, a youth alternative to incarceration program

"I got to do what I didn't know I could do. I had the best time it was amazing." 

- Nicole, student

"One student refused a turn because he was ashamed of his own creative ideas.  'But it's your idea,' I said.  'If it's your idea, then it must be good.'  When he finally shared we all had tears in our eyes, and he was proud."

-Telly Leung, Jaradoa Company Member and Play On! Guest Artist

"I was so thrilled to see how engaged the kids were. Even the ones who were a little reticent really embraced doing the work once it was 'their turn.' It was wonderful to see them thinking for themselves about possible acting choices within the written material. It was such a satisfying experience to see the kids having such a positive and enlightening discovery of the work of writing, directing, and acting."

- Benjamin Howes, Play On! Guest Artist

"I have learned how to write a short play. And how to read the monologues you gave us. How to use dialogue for the short play we make. How actors use blocking on stage when they are acting. Also, how to memorize lines. I like this experience so much that I have had with all of you!"                                                                                                 

 - Sandra, student

"It has been so easy and effective to collaborate with the members of Jaradoa because their work putting a script onstage is exactly what we want our students to do in the classroom - lift the lines from the page and bring them to life. Students who once had fractured relationships with reading are beginning to understand the beauty of truly interacting with a text."

- Renee Houser, Columbia Teacher's College
Reading and Writing Program

"My favorite part was acting out the plays. And writing the plays. And everything we did was fun and my favorite."  

-  Kevin, student

"Myself, even being an educator, I didn't really see the value so much with arts in the schools. And I see it, very much so. Students who don't necessarily shine in other aspects, they get to shine here." 

- Ms. Kibler, 5th grade teacher

"My favorite part of Jaradoa is when we read our monologues 'cause it felt so real. Like when you guys act! Jaradoa Company 4 Life!" 

- Monet, student