34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 5-11, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com CULTURE What if there was a way for law enforcement officers and others involved in the criminal justice system, including people of color, to hear each other’s stories, and learn from the experience? Conceived in 2016 in Oregon by the Red Door Project and led by artistic director Kevin Jones, The Evolve Experience aims to facilitate such conversations—and local audiences have three upcoming opportunities to participate for free. “It’s the first time in the state of California,” says District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni, who introduced the project to the Multicultural Community Council of Monterey County that advises the DA’s Office. Evolve helps “law enforcement to be better connected to the community,” she adds, emphasizing on the necessity of sharing experiences. “You don’t know what you don’t know.” That’s why, in addition to three public presentations, Monterey County also arranged for a special presentation to public officials, according to Pacioni and Yvonne Thomas, an executive committee member for the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who is also involved. “The point is to develop a certain level of complexity and meet in the middle,” Jones says. “These are stories from real life. But they are written by professional writers. And our actors are trained actors. They are not movie stars, but they are professionals.” Each performance includes a facilitated conversation. Designed to bridge divides, The Evolve Experience offers audience members space to reflect on their viewpoints, listen and engage in dialogue. “We want to go beyond this polarizing bad guys-good guys paradigm,” adds Lesli Mones, the Red Door Project’s co-founder. “We are in this together, as humanity.” It seems to be working as intended—“During my career, I have rarely encountered a presentation that is so moving, life-changing, relevant and has the potential to produce a positive culture shift in communities and organizations,” Capt. Derrick Peterson, from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon, wrote in a review. The Evolve Experience 7:30pm Friday, Oct. 6; 2pm and 7:30pm Saturday Oct. 7. Monterey County Office of Education’s Media Center for Art, Education and Technology, 901 Blanco Circle, Salinas. Free (registration required: bit.ly/3PGE9fL). 373-2955, reddoorproject.org/ evolve-experience. THE RED DOOR PROJECT Evolve in Salinas Monterey County hosts a dramatized presentation on the justice system and real human experience. By Agata Pop˛eda The Evolve Experience features live and filmed actors presenting dramatized versions of true stories from the intersection of race and the criminal justice system.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==