This inaugural gala grew out of Vali Forrister's visit to San Jose last summer where she met with leaders from ACTUA MUJER, the Vice-ministerio de Juventud, UNICEF and the UNFPA, all of whom were interested in how to translate the successful Act Like a GRRRL program in Costa Rica, where empowering young women is a crucial initiative of all these agencies. Since then, theatre artists, dancers, filmmakers and musicians from around the world have joined the effort (see invitation letter and program details here.)

The gala is the beginning of an ongoing process to find ways to use the arts to end violence against women and increase access to healthcare and education for women. In addition to performing their original monologues, songs and dances at the gala on March 8, the ALAG grrrls will participate in a workshop to exchange experiences with a group of young women their age (12-18) who are mothers enrolled in a program called Posada de Belen.

After the grrrls will return to Nashville, Vali will remain in Costa Rica to be part of a symposium with other arts leaders from around the world whose work focuses on women and girls to discuss how we can work together to increase opportunities to incubate empowerment in protected settings worldwide.

If you'd like to help the grrrls finance their trip to Costa Rica to share with these young women, please click here.

You can also send a check payable to Actors Bridge Ensemble (memo: ALAG) to:

Actors Bridge Ensemble
1312 Adams St.
Nashville, TN 37208

Rather to talk to someone and give more information? You can call Vali Forrister at 615-498-4077 to make a donation by credit card.

You can also donate online through Actors Bridge Ensemble right here by indicating your donation is for ALAG in the special instructions box.