Staff from Greater Fall River ReCreation, the Katie Brown Education Program, Partners for a Healthier Community, Resiliency Middle School, Saint Anne's Hospital, Saint Vincent's Home, United Neighbors of Fall River, and the YouthBuild programs in Fall River and New Bedford gathered at the Boys and Girls Club for the start of the seventh annual Peace By Piece Summit on April 16, 2015. Sponsored by the Greater Fall River United Way, the Fall River Shannon Community Safety Initiative, Southcoast Health, Bristol County District Attorney's Office, and Saint Anne's Hospital, this year's event offered an opportunity to hear from the Truthworker Theatre Company (TTC) a social justice based, hip-hop theatre company for high school and college aged youth in Brooklyn, NY. TTC is a safe space for young people to be the subjects, not the objects of their stories-narrating their own experiences & unique perspectives in ways that unpack, problematize, & shift the dominant, often stereotypical narratives in mainstream media. The evening gathering gave staff a chance to see a portion of their work and dialogue with the group in preparation for their performance the next day at B.M.C. Durfee High School. Click here for a 45-minute video of the gathering and performance. Click here for photos and video from last year's event. For more information about Peace By Piece, contact Wendy Garf-Lipp at 508-324-7900 or Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey at 508-679-0922, Ext. 110.

(Top row) Theatre Company Director Samara Gaev is greeted by United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy-Garf Lipp as they arrive at the Boys and Girls Club for a meal with agency staff. (Row two) Samara talks with Wendy and Partners School Wellness Director Marcia Picard as the theatre group enjoys their meal. (Row three, left and right) Enlil Rae and James Forza present part of their interpretation of "IN|PRISM: Boxed In & Blacked Out in America". (Row three, center) The book That Bird Has My Wings upon which the play is based, is the story of Jarvis Jay Masters who has been on death row since 1990 who recalls the neglect, abuse and hopelessness that relegated him to prison by age nineteen. (Row four) The group is applauded for their 30-minute performance. (Bottom row) Actor Ricardo Matos talks with Marcia Picard as Wendy Garf-Lipp talks with James Forza and Zofar Mohammed after the performance.