Onstage & Off

The arts play a critical role in both inspiring meaningful dialogue and, just as importantly, advancing social change. The Counter Narrative Project (CNP) is proud to be a sponsor of Hands Up because we believe this production speaks to our moment through the incredible stories presented on stage.

The recent public reckoning with the legacy of anti-Black racism and its manifestation through the criminal justice system has necessitated a confrontation with our present and our past. Bearing witness to this, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to imagine different possibilities and build them in the cultural laboratory of the theatre. This, I am convinced, begins with not just seeing the theatre audience as a passive spectator, but trusting them to be committed and willing partners for change.

There can be no social change without narrative change, and the arts have always been indispensable to that project. As champions of narrative change work, CNP stands against anti-Black racism and mass incarceration demonstrated through our efforts to end HIV criminalization, amplify racial justice, and elevate the voices of Black gay men. We are deeply inspired by the stories presented in this production. Our hope is that through the brilliance and beauty of Hands Up we are able to move the needle and that we are all transformed.

Charles Stephens is the Founder and Executive Director of the Counter Narrative Project (CNP).

The arts play a critical role in both inspiring meaningful dialogue and, just as importantly, advancing social change.