In the fall of 2023, students in Erin Chen’s senior American Government classes at Seattle World School worked with Jack Straw’s artist team to write and produce a series of PSAs about a wide range of community issues.

Starting in October, Jack Straw’s teaching artists made weekly visits to Seattle World School to help the students create audio PSAs on injustices in their local community. With the help of Jack Straw’s artist team and teacher Erin Chen, students brainstormed and voted on topics, wrote scripts for their pieces, edited their scripts, and practiced reading them out loud with professional vocal coaches.

In November, the students visited Jack Straw Cultural Center to professionally produce their PSAs, working with the artist team in the studios. In December, the class hosted a listening party at their school library to listen to each other’s PSAs and provide feedback.

Jack Straw teaching artists in the classroom at Seattle World School:

Seattle World School students in the studios at Jack Straw:

Listening party at the Seattle World School library:

Our Community, Our Voices was produced by Seattle World School government students and Jack Straw Cultural Center. The Jack Straw artist team included vocal coaches Stephanie Roman and Rob Witmer; producer Carlos Nieto; audio engineers Daniel Guenther and Ayesha Ubayatilaka; production intern Joel Chen; photographer Sherwin Eng; and Executive Director Joan Rabinowitz.

Special thanks to Seattle World School Teacher Erin Chen and Principal Jeff Clark, the Creative Advantage, the Seattle World School Fund, ArtsFund, and the Washington State Arts Commission. Music by Jack Straw resident artist William Chapman Nyaho.

Artists