Y.E.S. Alumni
“And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:
For ever, and for ever, farewell,
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then, this parting was well made.”
- Julius Caesar
Every individual who has been a Youth of Elm Shakespeare Advisory Council member has made a lasting impact and we, the current Y.E.S. members, wish to recognize their hard work by acknowledging them. Below, each Y.E.S. alumni shares their plan for their future and the lessons they learned from their time with the Y.E.S..
Taijae Carson-Smith
She/Her/Hers
Founding Y.E.S. Member, ‘20-’21
I joined Y.E.S. because I saw it as an opportunity to create a space for New Haven’s youth to become more involved in theatre. As a Y.E.S. member, I got to help build a platform for today's youth to have a say in what theatre is being created in their community. I am confident that the work that my fellow council members and I did laid a foundation for those who come after us, and who continue to shape a safe space for today's youth to express their voices in the theater industry. Being a part of Y.E.S. has taught me the importance of collaboration and teamwork because without the work of any one person in the council, we would not have been able to accomplish what we did in the past year. I hope to take the tools for collaboration I learned through my time as a Y.E.S. member and carry them on to my time studying at Smith College, where I plan to declare a major in theatre.
Juwan Lee
He/Him/His
Co-Founder, ‘20-’21
I took the responsibility of co-founding Y.E.S. when I was invited in the summer of 2019. My experience with Y.E.S. taught me how to take risks as I how to pursue the ideas that I want deep in my heart. Y.E.S. taught me the importance of discipline while I work towards obtaining my goals. As a student at the illustrious Morehouse House College in Atlanta, Georgia, I often look back on my time with Y.E.S. and appreciate the Youth of Elm Shakespeare Advisory Council for everything that it has taught me. I definitely would not be the person that I am today without the lessons I learned through being a Y.E.S. member.
Emma McCartan
She/Her/Hers
Founding Y.E.S. Member, ‘20-’21
I chose to become a Y.E.S. member so I could be more involved in theatre, and to further engage with my community of New Haven, Connecticut. Through Y.E.S., I learned more than I could have imagined about non-profit theatre and how theatre can be a tool for social change. I Y.E.S. expanded my horizons and taught me about what I value while working with a team in a collaborative environment. Y.E.S. sparked a curiosity in me to explore different perspectives; I hope to carry this spark of curiosity into future endeavors so I may learn as much as possible from those opportunities. Y.E.S. proved to me that anyone with passion and determination can make an impact in their community: a lesson I will bring into my future of studying political science.
Nina Renkert
She/Her/Hers
Founding Y.E.S. Member, ‘20-’21
Y.E.S. helped me further develop my collaboration and leadership skills while also giving me a space to practice genuine kindness, active listening, and humble confidence. I became a Y.E.S. member because I wanted to facilitate change in the theater industry by helping to explore and share holistic theater practices. Through Y.E.S., I investigated myself and the theater industry as a whole, which allowed me to evolve as an artist. I aim to continue my artistic growth as a first-year theater major at Skidmore College where I am taking a seminar that investigates the techniques writers use to promote radical empathy for social change. As an alumnus of Y.E.S., I hope to be a resource and connection that current and future Y.E.S. members may reach out to when they need help.
Please contact Y.E.S. if you have a question about our council, find a mistake on the Elm Website, or have an idea you would like to see Y.E.S. pursue. To get in touch with Y.E.S., you can use our contact form above or email us at youth@elmshakespeare.org. We are here to amplify your voice and ideas!
A series of articles, written by Y.E.S. members, intended to amplify the ideas, voices, and perspectives of the next generation of theatre-makers! Please leave a comment sharing your thoughts on an article or contact us to suggest an idea for an article you would like to see Y.E.S. write!