The Manton Avenue Project (MAP)'s mission is to nurture the unique potential of children in Olneyville by unleashing their creative voices and uniting them with professional artists to create original theater. We give young people the space, and the stage, to voice their powerful imaginations. MAP’s young playwrights develop original plays that express their understanding and experience of the world, and we professionally produce those plays for public audiences. Our programs are tuition-free and always will be.
MAP focuses our work on the nationally recognized model of Creative Youth Development (CYD), defined as a "commitment to supporting young people’s stories, ideas, and dreams through creative expression and honoring their lived experience" (Creative Youth Development National Partnership). By respecting the brilliant ideas of historically/continuously marginalized young people, and presenting those ideas to public audiences, MAP cultivates our students' resilience and improves their self-efficacy, both indicators of Positive Youth Development that lead to long-term success in adulthood, including healthy relationships, community connections, and economic self-sufficiency.
MAP is a small organization that has a shared leadership model and the organization is led by three co-directors. MAP celebrated its 20th year in 2024.
OPPORTUNITIES
We are seeking support for 2-10 hours total over the course of the spring semester for the following:
- Nonprofit financial coaching for our newest co-director, a youth alumna from our programs.
- Support with devising a development strategy for the organization (donors, fundraisers, 401Gives Campaign etc.).
We welcome individuals with interest and/or experience in various aspects of fundraising and development, non-profit management and related fields.
