OUR MISSION
Our mission is to engage, change, and save lives with the performing arts through community engagement and youth programming.
There is a community where arts advocacy, social justice, and youth mentoring connect; where young people are encouraged to take notice of the world around them and engage passionately and with purpose. The Listening, Inc aspires to be that safe place, where young people are engaged to use the performing arts to ask questions, develop answers, perform with purpose and change the world around them.
With TLI, one sole question is asked: “If you had a room full of people willing to listen to you, what would you say?”
We aim to engage, change and save lives with the performing arts.
OUR VISION
The Listening, Inc exists to challenge the perception of the performing arts being strictly for entertainment purposes, and connect it to its healing properties. We seek to confront lethargy, illiteracy, stagnation, and segregation, by building intentional relationships and seeking diversity in our creative expression.
We have a bold vision to see our community changed by socially minded artists who have a burden to use their talent, time, and passion to change the world around them, as well as the world inside of them. We believe that the road towards a better tomorrow is best accomplished passionately, creatively, and intentionally - together.
"You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have."
-- Maya Angelou
OUR VALUES
CREATIVITY - With the performing arts as our main mode of impact, we strive for creative methods to use spoken word/poetry, dance, music and/or theater to achieve our goals.
AUTHENTICITY - We seek appropriate transparency in our altruism, recognizing that trust is an investment, earned with openness and accountability. In that same spirit, we honor the investments and charitable intentions of our supporters and donors to meet current and future community needs.
INNOVATION - As a young organization, we champion efforts to discover new methods of engaging the world around us.
CURIOSITY - We serve as a safe space to explore and achieve understanding of our neighbors.
COMMUNITY - We strongly believe in working together, and seek to contribute to a collaborative narrative across sectors, perspectives and ideologies.
Imagination is the beginning of creation.
You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.
-George Bernard Shaw
Since 2013, The Listening in Lynchburg, Virginia has been actively been engaging Lynchburg’s creative community with regular events like open mic sessions, movie screening, and special performance showcases. From poets to dancers to singers to thespians, the stage was set at various locations around the city with an open invitation.
With the support of the community, it has grown into a bolder purpose of youth focus and engagement but the original question remains the same: “If you had a room full of people willing to listen to you, what would you say?”
The Listening in Lynchburg, Virginia helps the local community by creating a network of creative citizens who care about helping our community thrive. Often, this means reaching out to our most vulnerable members, such as youth and marginalized groups.
We start conversations or amplify important questions. We’re here to not only hear people, but also, make sure they are heard by others.
OUR IMPACT
We measure our success based on three levels of impact that we believe show how we’re building and transforming the local community.
EVENTS
We’ve had over 40 events, each with its own theme and vibe. We’ve also had the opportunity to work with amazing local organizations with similar mission to change our world using our talents and passions.
artists
Over 75 artists have found a home on this platform, from poets to dancers to singers and thespians- and we look forward to connecting with a lot more!
money raised
We’ve raised thousands through donations, grants, & sponsorships from our community. Through generous contributions, we have been able to increase our impact, make a stronger statement and serve our mission.