The Institute for Theatre & Social Change (ITSC) provides a research and development forum for expressive and interactive dramatic art practices, relative to education, therapy, and social justice, that disrupts oppression and engages communities in meaningful dialogue for social change. The interdisciplinary collaboration of dramatic arts, fine arts, and media offers a powerful creative weapon for artists, academics, healers, activists, and community organizers to ignite critical cultural dialogue. For more information, visit itsc.usc.edu.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: The School of Dramatic Arts acknowledges that there is much work to be done to dismantle the system and culture of inequity that has prevailed for many years at the School, and to assure a safe environment of authentic belonging and community for our BIPOC students, faculty and staff. The following overarching action items and goals for the School have been established as we endeavor to stand for the principles of inclusivity and equity in our classrooms, on our stages and in the university at large. These actions were developed following the CommUNITY Forum focus groups, but this is a framework. We will continually amend and further define these actions with input from the community at our SDA Inclusion and Equity Committee meetings, which all members of the SDA Community are invited to attend. Additionally, we are developing specific action steps for each area and program in the School, as well as metrics of assessment. For more, please read the full commitment at dramaticarts.usc.edu/edi.

The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offers programming to the entire SDA community, and serves as a space to empower collaborative and cultural innovation. Led by SDA’s Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Anita Dashiell-Sparks, the Office of EDI hosts workshops, trainings and annual CommUNITY Day events to promote dialogue, awareness and allyship; as well as events that strengthen the experiences for the School’s BIPOC students, faculty and staff. The Office of EDI also has a physical space on campus to help foster a safe community to promote, nurture and enhance the unique, diverse creativity of historically marginalized voices.