We Hold These Truths

Your Story is America’s Story.

What does America mean to you?

We Hold These Truths invites you to share your story and your hopes and dreams for the future of our country. 

Four playwrights are creating original short plays shaped by community listening sessions that ground the work in local stories and perspectives. Each play becomes the spark for a shared meal and guided conversation on the American experience. 

Bridge divides and connect with your neighbors as America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Highlights

  • A Meal.

    Tables of about ten people share food together, building connection across differences and experiences.

  • A Play.

    A short performance created by leading playwrights, inspired by real stories gathered from community listening sessions.

  • A Conversation.

    Skilled facilitators guide dialogue that encourages reflection, listening, and new understanding.

The Performances

  • "American Dream" by Jeilianne Vazquez

    A first-generation Latino teen on the brink of adulthood must choose between pursuing his dreams and staying behind to protect his immigrant family as fear, responsibility, and identity collide

  • "Ancestral Reckoning" by Marcie Rendon

     The ancestors foretold all that would be, from the coming of the pale people to a spider web around the planet to a choice that must be made of which road to walk, the ancestral road or the paved with technology road. The ancestors carry hope forward

  • "Faded Dream" by Melissa Simmons

    As he waits in line at a food pantry, newly unemployed Cole wrestles with mounting financial pressure - and a growing sense of disillusionment that forces him to confront what, if anything, the American Dream still promises 250 years after the nation’s founding.

  • "Tell Them About the Dream" by Dana Stringer

    A Black, southern pastor abandons his Sunday morning sermon to reflect on the past and present struggles and victories of African Americans, who have not only relied on faith in God for freedom and equality but also in the power of their dreams, imagination, and community–in pursuit of the American dream.n goes here

Be Part of It

  • Host.

    We Hold These Truths hosts can include cities, schools, businesses, nonprofits, houses of worship, and community groups. It doesn't have to be dinner: breakfast, lunch, or even coffee is great, too. Connect and be inspired to build a better world.

    Learn more!

  • Partner with Us

    Share your hopes and dreams for the future of our country and bridge divides while connecting with your neighbors.

    Learn More

  • Join a Public Event

    Listening sessions and community performances are coming soon!

    Upcoming Events

  • Facilitate.

    Facilitators moderate impactful dialogues, helping to keep the conversation on track.

    Learn more!

We Hold These Truths is a program of Out of Hand, winner of The New York Times Best Theater of 2020, the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities, and the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge. Out of Hand works at the intersection of art, social impact, and civic engagement. We help create a more just world through programs that combine theater with information and conversation. Since 2001, Out of Hand has collaborated with dozens of community partners to produce programs that combine art to open hearts, information to open minds, and conversation to inspire action.

Our other programs include Shows in Homes, Civic Collaborations, Creative Kids, and the Community Impact Lab. Over 15,000 people have participated in our Out of Hand Dinners, and over 90% leave feeling more connected to others and inspired to make a change. In fact, the top emotions reported at the end of the Dinners are "inspired," "connected," and "hopeful."

Interested in Hosting? Complete our Host Form Here.

We Hold These Truths
Partners