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Social Justice | DEI | The UBU Mission
According to Current Statistical Research
Among BIPOC Youth and Young Adults
- Teen suicide rates among black youth are increasing.
- Recently national data revealed that among children age 5-11, black children had the highest rate of death by suicide.
- Among African-American populations
- 1 million suffer with drug use
- 1.5 million suffer with alcohol abuse
- 320,000 suffer with a combination of alcohol and drug use
- Black and Hispanic youth who are bullied are more likely to suffer academically than their white peers.
- When bullying based on race or ethnicity is severe, pervasive, or persistent it may be considered harassment, which is covered under federal civil rights laws.
- Systemic Racism Is Systemic Bullying
- Bullying Is An Act of Violence
Among LGBTQ+ Youth and Young Adults (According to The Trevor Project)
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24
- LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth
- LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth
- 1 out of 6 students nationwide (grades 9–12) seriously considered suicide in the past year. [5]
- Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services:
Bullying can affect physical and emotional health, both in the short term and later in life. It can lead to physical injury, social problems, emotional problems, and even death.
- Those who are bullied are at increased risk for mental health problems, headaches, and problems adjusting to school.
UBU Data Driven Information, Becoming Part of the Solution:
According to fact-based research; UBU Residency Students Experience a 31.17% increase in
- Hope / Esperanza
- Resilience / Resistencia
- Self-Compassion / Auto-Compasion
- Empathy /Empatia
Our experience with the Arts as Activism
David Simmons: Founder, Executive Director, Teaching Artist
An honors graduate of the University of Montana School of Music; David's diverse career as an educator, actor, writer, composer, performer, mental health advocate, and social justice activist has taken him to all 50 states, 19 countries and 4 continents. In addition to his professional training and experience David is a thriving survivor of his own suicide attempts, a recovering alcoholic with over 28 years sober and he was the fat kid who got bullied in school. He also lives with the managed mental health diagnoses of major depressive disorder recurrent, free-floating anxiety and PTSD. And, he is living his best life yet.
David grew up in a family of arts educators and pacifist/activists. His own work in engaging the arts and education as tools of activism includes;
- Mixed Blood Theater: Actor, Musician, Director, Playwright, Composer
- Cultural Diversity, Equity, Pluralism, LGBTQ/Gender Rights, Mental Health Equity
- Penumbra Theater/Minnesota Opera: Actor/Singer
- Racism/Violence Awareness in a predominantly Caucasian culture of white privilege
- SteppingStone Theater for Youth Development: Playwright, Composer, teaching Artist
- Cultural Diversity, Equity, Pluralism
- Peaceful Love Warriors: Community Event Planner/Organizer, Performer, Public Speaker
- Building Peaceful Communities, Cultural Diversity, Equity, Pluralism
- Fort Peck Council On The Arts: Education Director, Teaching Artist
- Indigenous Cultural Awareness, Civil Rights, Anti-Racism
- Arizona Broadway Theater: Education Director, Teaching Artist, Director, Music Director
- Actively casting and hiring BIPOC & LGBTQ+ artists in a predominantly Caucasian culture of white privilege
- The UBU Project: Executive Director, Curriculum Developer, Teaching Artist
- Social/Emotional Learning
- Mental Health Equity/Awareness
- BIPOC/LGBTQ+ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
To learn more, please contact us directly at: info@ubuproject.org