Through our long-term, after-school playmaking programs, The Manton Avenue Project (MAP) sparks an ever-expanding sense of possibility by building each child’s capacity for personal and academic success. MAP gives young people tools to become tomorrow’s creative thinkers and community leaders.

Studies tell us that after-school arts programming improves kids’ academic and social skills, and MAP believes that theatre is a powerful vehicle for personal and social change. In each of our after-school programs, MAP offers kids supports and opportunities needed for positive youth development, increasing their self-efficacy and ability to navigate life’s challenges.

MAP encourages young people in Olneyville to find the value of their creative voices by working hard to master the creation of a finished play, and to reap the rewards of that hard work – namely the excitement of seeing their play performed by adult actors, the pride in their accomplishment and the applause of their adoring audience. The children experience successes that can be transferred to other aspects of their lives, and by engaging them in programming for multiple years (we work with the same children for at least five years), MAP regularly reinforces their belief in the capabilities of their imaginative voices.