The Uncommon Friendships Event: An Evening of Discovery!

A First Stage event, in partnership with Hours Against Hate, is geared to families and young people 10 years old and up. This event will highlight the powerful story told through BIG RIVER and its relevance today, and it will offer opportunities to explore friendship across lines of division.

Come and listen to our guest speakers share their story of uncommon friendship – and participate in fun and dynamic theater and group activities that will lead to reflection and discovery. You will receive a special surprise after the event!

EVENT
Free and open to the public (please RSVP)
Friday, March 29 5:00-7:00 p.m at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center

OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
Pardeep Kaleka lost his father, Satwant Singh Kaleka, in the Aug. 5, 2012 Sikh Temple of Wisconsin shooting. In 2012, Pardeep founded Serve 2 Unite, an organization that engages communities in peacemaking to address violence, conflict, and radicalization.

Arno Michaelis is a former white supremacist who helped to start the gang back in the late 1980s, which produced the Aug. 5 shooter. Single parenthood, love for his daughter, and the forgiveness shown by people he once hated, all helped to turn Arno’s life around, bringing him to embrace diversity and practice gratitude for all life. He shares his journey of transformation by working as an educator with Serve 2 Unite.

OUR FACILITATOR
Dominic Inouye is the founder and director of ZIP MKE. His 2017 UWM TEDX Talk introduced the community-building “raft” concept that was integral to his teaching for 22 years at Marquette University, Pius XI High School, and The Prairie School in Racine.

First Stage’s production of BIG RIVER serves as inspiration for this special event. Based on Mark Twain’s timeless classic, BIG RIVER tells the story of Huckleberry Finn as he helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom and reunite with his family. This coming-of-age musical has been adapted from the Broadway musical for family audiences, and it celebrates a journey of discovery and uncommon friendship. BIG RIVER runs March 15 – April 14 at Marcus Center's Todd Wehr Theater.

For more information, contact Lucia Lozano, Community Engagement Manager, at llozano@firststage.org or 414-267-2982.