Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts And Culture topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Out of Hand Theatre to bring 'We Hold These Truths' civic-dinner series to Brookhaven
Summary
Out of Hand Theatre presented a civic-engagement program of short plays plus facilitated dinners; the group plans 10 Brookhaven events (part of a larger Metro-Atlanta rollout) with a first local event tentatively May 14.
Out of Hand Theatre representatives told the City Council they plan to bring the "We Hold These Truths" equitable-dinners program to Brookhaven as part of a broader Metro Atlanta initiative.
"I am Ashley Freeman. I am the out of hand theaters program manager," Ashley Freeman told the council, describing a model that pairs short (10–15 minute) plays with a meal and small-group facilitated conversations to prompt civic reflection on American democracy and community belonging. The program will focus on four stories (including immigrant, Native American, descendant of enslaved African Americans and economically struggling European-descended perspectives) and aims to host the first Brookhaven event on May 14, with nine additional events across the city to reach all council districts and a diverse set of community venues.
Freeman said the broader project aims for 200 tables, 40 events and 2,000 attendees across the Metro Atlanta rollout; Brookhaven’s portion will be 10 events. The presentations will include local listening sessions and collaboration with Cross Keys for youth input on one of the plays. Program organizers said they hope to hire local businesses to provide the meal components and use professional facilitators to guide small discussion groups.
Council members welcomed the program and asked no substantive questions during the presentation.
What’s next: organizers will coordinate with city staff (Patrice) on scheduling and venues and aim to hold the first Brookhaven event in mid-May.
