The Identity Project

The Identity Project believes that in order for true systemic change to occur we must create radical new narratives. Narratives born of beloved community, woven through with belonging, tolerance, and empathy. This is especially necessary now, in a national moment when we are facing a crisis of identity. Narratives of separation and otherness erode the moral foundation of our democracy, language is weaponized in the highest of offices, and our cultural mythologies have become toxic with racist, nationalist ideologies. Above all, the new narratives we communally author must be initiated by our nation’s next generation of true change agents — our youth. The Identity Project’s school-based residencies in documentary storytelling and project-based literacy learning empower marginalized youth with opportunities to explore identity, selfhood, and personal power of voice. At the heart of The Identity Project lies the belief that every young person deserves an education that nurtures and bold expression of identity. Whether partnering with schools, museums, or community centers throughout the Southwest US, our residencies are uniquely tailored to bring together desperate youth communities through critical and creative inquiry. Our innovative pedagogical framework is grounded in evidence-based practices of creative youth development, culturally responsive teaching, applied empathy practices, and trauma-informed learning. Over the course of an implementation, The Identity Project guides students through an interdisciplinary curriculum in documentary arts designed to enrich students’ sense of voice, narrative, and identity, and ultimately deepen their feelings of self-worth and educational empowerment.