Peer Education Background

Established in 1981, Illusion's theater-based Peer Education Program was the first of its kind in the country. It began as a collaboration between Illusion Theater and the State Department of Human Services and has since become an ongoing, important part of Illusion's Education mix. Through a play development and youth peer educator training process, Illusion takes tested and crafted messages about important issues and blends them with each Peer Education site group's experiences to create a unique and impactful performance, tailored to address the specific needs of each community. The goals of the Illusion Theater Peer Education Program are: To bring the transforming power of theater to youth To create a model for youth-to-youth education on important social and personal issues ? such as child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, sexual harassment, mental health, eating disorders, identity issues, and HIV/AIDS ? through the use of Illusion Theater plays To empower students, teachers, and communities to be able to deal with these issues To involve youth in a compelling theater-based education model that fosters the healthy development of participants and audiences To provide a positive educational experience for youth that will empower them to initiate change To fulfill Illusion Theater's mission, belief, and passion that theater can serve as a catalyst for personal and social change To provide a method of delivering important prevention messages that is vital and cost-effective Illusion's Peer Education Program has reached over 350,000 children, adolescents, and adults through performances and workshops at 30 sites in 18 states. Liaison organizations within those communities include high schools, a women's resource center, community education, school districts, and victim's services. We have trained over 500 youth in eighteen communities across Minnesota and the U.S. to perform plays for other youth (age 6-18) in their cities and towns.

In 1997, Illusion's peer education work was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice as one of eight exemplary programs using arts as a way to conduct violence prevention. Illusion was the only program selected outside of the eight Justice Department designated cities for this honor. It was also the only program to involve youth in the subsequent violence prevention training sponsored by the Juvenile Justice Department for the award recipients. In October 1999, Illusion Theater was one of only a handful of U.S. organizations invited to present a workshop on our innovative Peer Education model at the Regional European Conference of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN) held in Israel. And, in October 2000, Illusion was one of only ten organizations nationwide to receive a prestigious Coming Up Taller Award, honoring its work with youth. The award is sponsored by the NEA and the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.