MISSION & HISTORY

BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS USING THEATRE AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION!

RESPECT is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization founded by Dr. Patricia Newman in 2000. Our Mission Statement is Building Healthy Relationships Using Theatre and Community Collaboration. And our goal is Staging Conversations, with a vision of Healthy Relationships for All.

When RESPECT began, many doubted the seriousness of bullying and teen-dating violence, and their connection to mental health issues and child abuse. But Dr. Newman, a Clinical Child Psychologist, with graduate degrees in Educational Psychology and Special Education, knew otherwise. She also knew there were ways to prevent many of these problems and to provide help for those experiencing them. RESPECT works collaboratively with students, families, schools, and communities to help give individuals the information, skills, and experiences they need to have healthier and safer relationships and communities.

RESPECT harnesses the power of theater to create an experience where social-emotional learning can flourish. RESPECT provides a safe and collaborative environment in which audiences are invited to “try-on” new behaviors, practice new skills and reimagine how to handle difficult situations. Theatre captivates attention and is an efficient way to “Stage Conversations” so that students and teachers can safely share and learn from each other