Each One Reach One

Each One Reach One uses theater-based techniques to break the cycle of violence, particularly for young men of color. The organization supports youth currently and formerly involved in the juvenile justice system to become productive citizens. Each One Reach One's Playwriting Program matches youth with mentors who support them in writing short plays that are later performed by professional actors. Each year, the organization works with 30 juvenile detention centers and reaches 150 youth in San Francisco and Sonoma counties. The organization, which recently expanded its services to include visual art, is in the process of merging with Success Centers, a larger organization with a long history of serving youth involved in the criminal justice system.

Each One Reach One was founded as an arts advocacy organization rooted in the exploration of theater-based strategies that could effectively break the cycle of violence, particularly for young men of color. Since 1998, the organization has remained dedicated to its mission to divert incarcerated youth from a life in prison to become productive community members. Through its mentor-based Playwriting Program, Each One Reach One, a first-time grantee, matches 30 mentors with 30 youth each year.