From the classroom to the stage
Being a young student with an irregular migration status carries a heavy burden - multiple identies built on choices that were not yours but define you, lessons in invisibility, in careful silence, in the art of going unseen:
"Do not shine too brightly, do not raise your hands too eagerly, hide your story, hide who you are".
It's a shadow education in survival, where "be yourself" transforms into "protect yourself," and where the natural impulse to be heard must be quietly folded away like a old photograph hidden in a drawer.
This hidden reality sparked what would become The Voiceless Project, a groundbreaking collaboration between Education and Theater. The project began with a simple yet powerful declaration from an Playwright Project student: "I want to write a play about migration. It is important." From this seed grew an innovative initiative that bridges classroom and stage, bringing together DACA recipients, undocumented students, international and refugee students, and those from mixed-status families to share their stories safely and anonymously.
At its heart, Voiceless creates space for those who have learned the art of invisibility as a means of survival. Through careful story collection and artistic development, these narratives are woven into powerful theatrical productions. And the stories flow , like a river, from invisibility to the stage.
This is not traditional academic research - there are no hypotheses to prove or data to analyze. We do not use stories to serve any purpose. Instead, it is a platform for authentic storytelling and transformation. Working across departments and breaking down barriers, we simply listen, write, and ultimately amplify voices that have long been silenced. Our goal is to create a space where those who have been taught to be invisible can finally be seen and heard on their own terms.
Through this unique collaboration between education, theater arts, and social justice, The Voiceless Project stands as testament to the power of storytelling to build bridges, foster understanding, and give voice to those who have too long remained in the shadows.
