After ten months, more than 600 hours of work, and 80 something rehearsals, it is the end of the 2009-2010 City at Peace year. I only have one rehearsal, fundraiser and party to go until all my Wednesdays and Saturdays are free. I am not looking foreword to that freedom, however, because the time I spent at City at Peace this year was worth every second.

In September I was extremely excited and nervous to start my second year with City at Peace. My first year had been a time of making self-discoveries and being exposed to the realities of the world I live in. Starting my second year I was scared that I wouldn’t connect with my cast and that there would be unhealthy divisions within the room. As the year progressed I discovered that it was necessary for there to be ups and downs in my process in order for me to grow. The year was not perfect, there were divisions in the room, various conflicts and upsets, but there was also growth, understanding and love. The hardships throughout the year made me realize that imperfection is not a bad thing, but rather a vital part of my growth process.

The past year has been absolutely fantastic, crazy, and overwhelming all at the same time. I learned how to be a leader, how to gain self-confidence and understanding, and I learned about the world through the different perspectives of my cast mates. At City at Peace I found my voice through trial and error. I learned that everyone processes things differently and that there is no universal way to speak out against oppression. Most importantly I learned how to be an advocate. City at Peace taught me how to stand up for my friends when I heard violent things being said in the street and how to articulate my feelings. I also learned how to speak out when I am experiencing conflict in my life, and I discovered that with the power of my peers at City at Peace behind me I had the power to make significant changes in my life.

When I leave City at Peace this year and go to college I will be leaving more than an organization; I will be leaving my family. I will be leaving behind the people who held my hand when I broke down and I will be leaving the people who gave me the tools to stand back up and continue to promote change. However, I will also be taking City at Peace with me where ever I go in life; I will never forget the people and lessons I learned thanks to my City at Peace family.

Peace,
Nicole

Hi, I am Nicole and I am a recent graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Maryland. I have always been passionate about social issues, equality, and making a difference in the world. That passion lead me to join City at Peace because I wanted to gain the skills to be a successful leader and I wanted to learn more about discrimination. Another of my great passions is acting. Prior to joining CAP I participated in and interned for a community based theater group for eight years. After joining CAP I found that I much prefer acting out true stories for people that I care about. I am currently the youngest deacon in my church’s history, and I believe that it is important for youth to have leadership roles in all aspects of their lives. City at Peace gives me the chance not only to share and learn, but it also teaches me how to speak out about what upsets me and gives me the skills to make a difference. Someday I hope to be a discrimination lawyer fighting against sexism, racism, and heterosexism in the courtroom.