“Delightful, informative, respectful, entertaining, thrilling, welcoming, structured, warm, very playful, interactive, fun, and multicultural” - Participant

“Sharing my story through improv allowed me to share a vulnerable side of myself in a way everyone enjoyed.” - Participant

In Our Stories Are Alive, we are creating a community ensemble of intergenerational storytellers at the Queens Center for Gay Seniors in Jackson Heights, NY.

LGBTQIA2S+ older adults and students at LaGuardia Community College discover what we are called to communicate about ourselves and our future. Through workshops that mix theatre games, improv, poetry performance, and story circles, we build community.

In Spring 2026, we will lead workshops focused on creating protest songs, culiminating in a performance at the Queens Pride Parade with Ania Upstill and Social Practice CUNY.

Our Stories Are Alive started as a program with Spectrum Arts Productions called the S.G.B. Generational Bridge, created with Craig Anthony Bannister and supported by Apollo Boissiere.

In summer 2025, Liliana Rebolledo Vergara brought her experiences as a musician and activist to the group. In fall 2025, our work continued with workshops facilitated by Manny Dunn and Samantha Ciccone, with Guest Artists Irisdelia Garcia and Craig Anthony Bannister.

Our Stories Are Alive is made possible in part with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund in 2025 and 2026, a re-grant program supported by NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.