Breaking Silences
Breaking Silences: A community of girls
This program is currently being reassessed and redeveloped to meet the current and changing needs of our girls. Stay tuned
In a culture where girls are anxious, lonely and long to be accepted and will do anything to be included, Breaking Silences reminds them that they are valuable and loved just the way they are.
Mission Statement: Our goal is to equip girls with the tools, support, and community they need to grow into healthy, strong women with passion and conviction. To celebrate what makes them unique, teach them their value as girls and help them develop their own voice in a society full or pressures. We strive to build a community of strong girls with a sense of self-worth and compassion towards others, girls who will return to their society as positive, loving role models.
Breaking Silences is a group open to girls grades 7th-12th. We meet every Wednesday, 5:30-7:00. Oct.-May.
Principles:
1:This group is a safe place, a sisterhood that includes and respects girls from all walks of life and isn’t limited by race, religion or political views.
2: This group challenges girls to look out for the needs of each other, to listen and communicate even when they disagree.
3: This group practices gratitude. It challenges girls to make a radical shift in how they view their own lives with the goal of developing a deep understanding of the gifts that are present in their own lives.
4: This group challenges girls to become responsible members of our community and the world through selfless acts that contribute to the welfare of others.
I will be Loving, treating others as I would like to be treated.
I will be Joyful, finding the blessings in every situation.
I will be Peaceful, respecting others opinions and beliefs.
I will be Patient, persevering toward my goals despite obstacles.
I will be Kind, respectful to all and willing to help others at all times.
Instructors: Elizabeth Namen, Rachel Martin Raddatz and Lexi McGuigan.
If you are interested in joining this program and to fill out an application, please contact Rachel Martin Raddatz at: rachel@epocharts.org. Space is limited.
Instructors are certified in " Youth Mental Health First Aid," which focuses on helping youth ages 12-18 who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or are in a crisis and DCF training.
To donate to this program donate here: http://www.epocharts.org/donate
News:
East Hampton arts center group to present original play
03/25/19 - The Middletown Press
Breaking Silences is funded and supported by:
Testimonies:
“Breaking Silences was very beneficial to me because it helped open my eyes to problems within our community rather than allowing me to just focus on my own problems. It helped me to grow stronger as a young woman and it made me realize that there were healthy outlets of expression to focus on rather than to get into trouble and go down the path I was going. It was much more rewarding to let it out artistically, in a group setting that was always there for me. I eventually came back and became a leader in the group. It was amazing to see our girls become healthy young women, and to find the artist within them. So much has been given to me through this group and I loved that I was able to give some of it back in return.”
Britta Gustafson. (Former Breaking Silences girl and leader.)
Breaking Silences Memories
Breaking Silences 2022 - Behind the Screen
This original play, created and written by both middle and high school girls, dives into the pressure of social media, appearance, and keeping up with trends as well as showing issues that girls face everyday such as bullying, abuse, mental illness, and relationships. Coming off a year of isolation and distance learning, we see characters that are brought back together in a school setting and the struggle they feel to connect again and find value and worth as they try to cover up their flaws, struggles, and imperfections in order to be accepted.
Breaking Silences 2021 - Across the Line
The girls have been working this year with the theme, " There are two sides to every story." We have discussed the word "diversity" and challenged ourselves to what it means to sit down and talk with someone of an opposing view. Discussions have focused on what it takes to be a good listener with knowing that we don't have to see the world the same way or agree with each other, to value one another. How do we step across so called "enemy" lines towards one another and possibly begin to talk about and heal what is tearing us apart. Across the Line is an original one act play of a one sided story that is at "war." It deals with aspects of the fear of not being accepted, silence, anger as well as compassion and strength. Mary Rainville is a senior in the Breaking Silences group and has created her character based on what the " other" side feels. “My character in the play is an outsider. She has been told that her opinion is wrong, and that she cannot live peacefully unless she submits to the other side. Instead of being angry or wanting to fight, she just wants peace in diversity, with people being allowed to think differently than each other. I love doing the show, and being able to do my senior show means a lot to me. With Covid, I was really afraid we wouldn’t be able to do anything. It is so incredible to be able to work together with all the girls and create something like this.”
Breaking Silences 2020 - Drops of Love
The girls group, Breaking Silences, at Epoch Arts will perform in a original play called Drops of Love. The girls have been researching refugee women from the Middle East and have written their stories into this original production. Taking place in the Moria Refugee Camp in Greece, the play discusses the hardships these women face. Actress Mary Rainville plays a character named Naava and explains what the play means to her. " This play is important to me because it lets me see the lives of real refugee women. These women are the strongest, bravest most empowering women in all of the world." Working with organizations like Drop in the Ocean, and Preemptive Love, as well as researching articles and facts, the girls take on the voices of these suffering women. The play revolves around 5 American girls who visit the refugee camp and are put on lock down. Their eyes are opened to issues they thought they knew about, only to discover that they had very little knowledge about them. Rachel Reese plays a reporter in the play and has learned first hand about the real issues of refugee camps. " There's both misinformation and a lack of information, many people don't know all the facts. Taking part in this play has educated me on this issue." The play opens March 13th and 14th, 7:00pm, $8 admission. To make reservations call us at 860-365-0337 or visit us online at www.epocharts.org. 27 Skinner Street, East Hampton. To hear real stories about these refugees, visit: Drop in the Ocean: https://www.drapenihavet.no/en/home/ and Preemptive Love: https://preemptivelove.org/
Breaking Silences 2019 - Voices Rise
The play looked at a variety of issues that women and girls are facing from around the world. It talked about the silence and oppression that women endure both here in the United States and around the world. It asks us what it will take to open our eyes to give hope and a voice to our sisters who are in need.
Breaking Silences 2017- Divided Together
An original play written by the girls of Breaking Silences. What happens when the world is in chaos and a group of diverse girls are brought together on an island for safety? Will diversity separate or save them? How do we work together when we are so different?
Breaking Silences 2016 - In Her shoes
What is it like to walk in someone else's shoes? The girls took a walk in a variety of shoes leading to a variety of places. They found homeless people, bullies, a pregnant teen and learned valuable lessons along the way.
Breaking Silences 2015 - Pieces of Us
The play was written by the girls of Breaking Silences and focused on relationships and how our lives are interconnected. Underlying themes dealt with alcohol abuse and drinking and driving.
Breaking Silences 2014 - True Beauty
This original play asked the question: What is true beauty and how do we find it? The girls enter a beauty pageant only to find out that the judge is blind.
Breaking Silences 2013 - We As Women
We as women was an original play based on the struggle women have and are facing. Focusing on the hunger strikes, the right to vote, young girls like Malala who were shot simply for wanting to attend school and girls who struggle with sorrow of loss were just a few of the themes in the play.
Breaking Silences 2012 - Fairy Tales
An original play based on specific fairy tales. A girl named Dori always seems to complain, but once she enters into the land of fairtails, she realizes that it takes everyone to get a job done and learns valuable lessons along the way.