Though she be but little, she is fierce...

Charlotte at last year's Spring Break Camp "Measure for Measure"

We were elated when our student Charlotte M. said she had an idea to bring The Viola Project down to her own neighborhood Hyde Park. (BTW, at 16 Charlotte isn't so "little" anymore, but she is definitely FIERCE!)  We told her if she led the way, we would follow.  So Charlotte set to work printing and posting flyers and getting us in touch with schools near by.  What followed was our largest, most successful President's Day workshop ever.  We sat down with Charlotte to find out a little more information about what inspired her to take on something like this, despite it being the middle of the school year!

TVP:  What do you love about Viola Project?

Charlotte:  I don't know where to start about what I love about Viola. Personally, it was the first theater camp that truly taught me how to act; I broke out of my shell there, and Viola's taught me so much about acting over the past five years. Concerning the community, I think Viola creates this beautiful environment for young women to grow in so many ways. Viola really blends social justice, acting, and literature in a way that's fun and interactive. Not to mention the opportunities it gives to girls whose families may not be able to afford summer camps. It gives me a lot of hope for the future to see great programs offer low cost workshops where girls can really excel. 

TVP: What was your first Viola Project experience?

Charlotte:  My first Viola Project experience was in the summer of 2013. I think it was called something like Food and Falstaff? Not sure, but I have a t-shirt from that summer still. Brings back good memories!

TVP:  What made you want to bring The Viola Project to your community?

Charlotte:  Seeing how Viola offered scholarships, I thought bringing Viola to a generally more diverse (ethnicity and income-level) part of Chicago would really put that offer to good use. I think that a program like The Viola Project should reach as far as it can and give every girl a chance to learn in a safe environment. I hope to see it expand even more in the future. 

TVP: What were some challenges you faced with trying to get this program off the ground?

Charlotte:  Working with Rebecca to make the Hyde Park workshop a reality was amazing. I have to give most of the credit to her, because while I had an idea, Rebecca was the one who really set up the location and organization. But if I had to pinpoint what was most difficult for me, I'd say advertising and balancing work for the program with school work. I've learned a lot about time management and organization from helping to set up this workshop. I was so pleasantly surprised to hear Hyde Park's workshop on President's Day was the largest, and I hope I can work with more events in that location soon. 

TVP:  Anything else you'd like to add?

Charlotte:  What impressed me the most in this process was the hard work and cooperation of The Viola Project's management. I could never have made this real without Rebecca and all the other great women who run Viola. I literally just gave them an idea I felt really strongly about, and they said "Ok, let's find a way to make this happen together." That was such a refreshing and fulfilling answer after feeling like I had no way to make a difference for a long time. It was really a testament to Viola's mission to help women change the world, and I'm so grateful for all the help they gave me. 

Thanks, thanks, and ever thanks, Charlotte!