One Well, One World: Activating Water Justice in the Global Textile Industry
Philip Valle
Lecturer - Department of Theatre and Dance, California Polytechnic State University, USA
Phyllis Wong
Lecturer - Department of Theatre and Dance, California Polytechnic State University, USA
Amani Arellano
Student and Research Assistant - California Polytechnic State University, USA
Jenna Brock
Student, Research and Teaching Assistant - California Polytechnic State University, USA
Sara Sjoblom
Student and Research Assistant - California Polytechnic State University USA
WORKSHOP
Athens International Conference "Theatre/Drama & Inclusive Education"
21-23 of March 2025
Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-Gr)
Language: English
Limited number of participants
Workshop Description
AIM: Our goal is to educate young people in the clear relationship between the fast fashion garment industry and the degradation of global water resources. Our aim is to nurture a compassionate community that champions health, well-being, and a sense of belonging for people worldwide.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: This workshop draws on a foundation of transformative education and social justice principles rooted in the works of bell hooks, and Augusto Boal.
bell hooks’ concept of engaged pedagogy reinforces this goal by emphasizing the value of inclusive, participatory learning where each voice holds value. hooks asserts that effective education is transformative when it creates space for diverse perspectives, drawing from participants’ lived experiences to foster a sense of shared responsibility. Through an inclusive, dialogue-based approach, our workshop invites all participants to contribute their unique perspectives on environmental stewardship, recognizing that sustainable solutions are inherently collective.
Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed informs the workshop’s interactive design. Boal’s work champions theatre as a tool for social justice, empowering participants to explore and challenge oppressive systems through role-play and critical reflection. His idea of “spect-actors”—participants who both observe and act—aligns with our goal of fostering empathy and engagement around water justice, encouraging participants to take an active role in envisioning and embodying solutions.
METHODOLOGY: Guided by these theories, we use the metaphor of One Well from the children's book by Rochelle Strauss to prompt participants to imagine all the world’s water as a single shared source, inspiring a mindset of global stewardship over resource exploitation. Using Theatre of the Oppressed, Process Drama, and Applied Theatre, participants will explore the social and environmental dimensions of water justice, gain embodied understanding through role-play, and reflect on how their actions impact their communities. By the end, participants will have both insights and actionable tools to advocate for water justice.
DOCUMENTATION: This workshop represents a small portion of a state-funded, multi-year longitudinal study: The Staging Change Project. Our team will provide important insights into the efficacy of theatre-based environmental education programs in promoting environmental literacy, increasing prosocial action, and decreasing climate-based anxiety among students.
APPLICATIONS: The Staging Change Project has been presented at various symposia and continues to be implemented in K-12 public schools across central California -- underscoring the relevance and impact of theatre-based approaches to social and environmental issues.
EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOMES: This workshop seeks to:
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Promote global equity in access to our planet’s limited natural resources
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Foster environmental justice and literacy
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Increase empathy and prosocial action
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Decrease climate-based anxiety
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Improve self-efficacy and personal agency
TARGET GROUP: For the purposes of this conference, this workshop is designed for theatre educators, community activists, students, and practitioners interested in using performance as a tool for social change. It is open to all levels of experience in theatre or activism.
Language: English.
Previous Experience: No previous theatre experience is necessary; openness to collaborative and creative processes is essential.
Clothing: Comfortable clothing suitable for movement and participation.
Workshop includes exercises with possible physical contact.
REFERENCES
Boal, A., & others. (2019). Theatre of the oppressed. Pluto Press. (Original work published 1979)
Bailey, K., Basu, A., & Sharma, S. (2022). The environmental impacts of fast fashion on water quality: A systematic review. Water, 14(7), 1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071073
hooks, bell. (1994). Teaching to transgress: Education as the practice of freedom. Routledge.
Strauss, R. (2007). One well. Kids Can Press Ltd.
Facilitators
Philip Valle teaches courses in Theatre History, Playwriting and Directing for the Department of Theatre and Dance at California Polytechnic State University, USA. He received his MFA in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University. In 2020, he received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Honors College, where he developed a course in Creativity. His original theatrical works, performed in the United States, Canada and Mexico, are inspired by the history of social justice, from the civil rights movement to the anarchic rise of rock and roll. Recent productions of his plays pool ’63, Refried Elvis and the immersive play Ghost Ship received numerous national awards, including Outstanding Production of a Devised Work and Outstanding Theatrical Creation from The Kennedy Center. In 2019, Mr. Valle presented his research in the "Cognitive Science of Creativity" at Queen’s University – Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 2022, Mr. Valle joined collaborators in Mumbai India for an ongoing devised theatrical/film project addressing global Climate Justice and the fashion industry entitled The Bombay Runway. Mr. Valle is the co-founder of The Staging Change Project, an outreach program that addresses Climate Science by providing transformative performing arts curriculum to thousands of students across central California.
Phyllis Wong is an educator, community builder, and storyteller, teaching Introduction to Theatre, Theatre History I & II, and Theatre for Young Audiences at California Polytechnic State University, USA. Holding a Ph.D. in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University, she integrates her passion for applied theatre, and civic dialogue in her classes. Dr. Wong is drawn to stories from the margins and believes in the power of theatre to foster connection and societal engagement. She is a skilled facilitator and public speaker with rich experience in community outreach and engagement. Her previous courses include Theatre for Social Change, Improvisation, and Methods in Teaching Drama. Dr. Wong, co-founder of The Staging Change Project, has received multiple grants and scholarships, including the prestigious Ernst and Irmgard Moller Dissertation Scholarship and Cal Poly’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program Grants. Dr. Wong has presented her work at conferences like the International Drama and Education Association and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. She most recently wrote, directed and toured a show surrounding the topic of fast fashion and climate change. Above all, she is a mother and lifelong learner, with her husband and two children taking center stage in her life.
Amani Arellano is a second-year Theatre Arts major at California Polytechnic State University, USA, set to graduate next year and move on to earn her teaching credential. While she loves to perform, she is discovering more and more each day how theatre is more than a source of entertainment, but a tool to educate and work towards a more aware and engaged society. Examples of Amani’s intersection of theatre and education include years of directing the Singing Hands Children’s Choir, where she taught students ages 5-18 American Sign Language through musical theatre. Driven by her commitment to climate justice, she also spent months devising and starring in a touring musical, Loose Threads. This production reached thousands of elementary schoolers across her county, educating them on the fast fashion industry and its contribution to climate change. This summer, Amani was selected for Cal Poly’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program grant, where she designed and facilitated workshops for hundreds of K-6 students on climate justice, with a focus on water’s role in our environment. Through methods like Mantle of the Expert and Process Drama, she effectively engaged students, blending theatre techniques with scientific concepts to foster lasting understanding and hopeful agency.
Jenna Brock is a dedicated theater educator and community builder, currently pursuing her degree in Theatre Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA. Focused on integrating arts education with environmental and social justice, Jenna has developed and managed numerous innovative projects. Her recent work includes producing and directing "Loose Threads: An Original Musical," which educates children about sustainability and environmental justice, supported by a grant from the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CPSLO). As the founder of SLO.Underground, Jenna has established a successful media platform promoting local community events and live music. Her exceptional stage management skills earned her the Kennedy Center Certificate of Merit at Cal Poly. In addition to her practical experience, Jenna serves as a Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Theater with Dr. Wong and Philip Valle, delivering guest lectures and facilitating a tri-annual Theatre Expo. Previously, she was a Student Leader at Encore South Bay, where she assisted in over 40 theater productions, educating and mentoring more than 1,000 youth and adult performers. Jenna's dedication to community engagement, arts education, and storytelling makes her a dynamic force in the theater arts, committed to fostering connection and societal engagement through the power of the arts.
Sara Sjoblom is a senior undergraduate student at California Polytechnic State University, USA, with a major in Child Development and a minor in Dance. She is a current member of the Orchesis Dance Company and the Psi Chi National Honors Society. Due to her contributions to the dance community, she was awarded the 2024 Ann Astaire Dance Scholarship to help fund her education. As a leader in the dance program, she strives to create an inclusive environment where anyone can thrive in a dance class. Through her studies of child development and dance, Sara dreams of expanding access to the arts to children to support their learning and development. Sara joined the Staging Change Project in 2024 in hopes of combining her passion for the arts, children, and climate change. Through collaborative efforts, she is learning how to effectively create and implement theatre workshops that will inspire children to take action to combat climate change. On the research team, Sara took charge of analyzing data and interpreting the results from previous workshops and incorporating the findings into this year’s workshops.