TPSU Zoomcast

While the 9th cycle of To Protect, Serve and Understand™  that was supposed to happened in the Spring had to be postponed, current tragic and brutal events have placed an even greater scrutiny of modern policing and the loud cries of activist groups calling for racial equality makes us realize how this program is necessary, now more than ever.

TPSU™ is a one-of-a-kind workshop that employs actor-training techniques and explores unique problem solving and real-life communication skills. The participants break bread together, play improv games, sing and sit down to have some tough conversations. And that can only happen when people can gather in one room.

Since that’s not possible right now, Irondale has decided to promote a zoomcast, welcoming back both police officer and civilian program alumni willing to continue the tough conversations about real-time current events in the community and on a national scale. (Something similar to our TPSU Podcast)

Evening participants will perform short monologues developed from guided interviews conducted prior to the zoomcast between police officers and civilians, diving into each other’s experience and perspectives. Representing the stories of the other, this exercise encourages compassion, empathy and experience — a nod to one of the exercises used in the main-stage full workshop.

This will be a two-night event and, after each session, a discussion will follow covering topics that include the recent police reform and defunding, the repercussions of political action and protest, the shift in community dynamics, and accountability for both the actions of the NYPD and the communities they serve.

“We are facing an unmistakable crisis that has both police and civilian lives at stake. Change can only happen when we can truly hear each other and understand each other. That takes work and guts. And while programs like TPSU feel urgent right now, we will gather virtually to begin the work to lead to change in our community until we can safely gather in person in our space once again.” Terry Greiss – Irondale’s Executive Director and TPSU founder.