“WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS” (WHTT) 2026 SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
“We Hold These Truths” (WHTT) 2026 Summer Program is a FREE four-week-long creative writing and performance workshop created by the Center for Documentary Expression and Art (CDEA) in partnership with the University of Utah Department of Theatre, University Neighborhood Partners, and Utah Cultural Celebration Center. Inspired by the Declaration of Independence and other writings, this friendly community experience invites students to explore what equality, liberty, and justice mean in their own lives and in the world around them. Through prose, poetry, and performance, students will find and shape their voice, creating original work that speaks to who they are and what they stand for. Together, we will question, imagine, and reframe these founding ideals, culminating in a public sharing where students’ words take the stage and their truths are heard.
WHEN: June 8 – July 3, 2026 I Monday through Thursday 10:00am – 1:00pm I Final Performance on Friday, July 3
WHERE: Utah Cultural Celebration Center (UCCC), 1355 W 3100 S, West Valley City, UT 84119
The program aims to engage high-school-age youth (13-18) in Salt Lake Valley and is limited to 35 participants. Each participant will receive:
• Up to 3 University of Utah elective credits (upon completion)
• Up to a $200 stipend (upon completion)
• Opportunities for student writing to be published and shared with the community
• Daily snacks provided with time to explore the Utah Cultural Celebration Center and its outdoor spaces
Guided by Samantha (Sam) Briggs, Assistant Professor at the U of U Department of Theater, and poets/writers Dr. David Gonzalez, Dr. Masha Shukovich, and J.R. Martinez, the residency will explore founding documents like the Declaration of Independence; writing by Tom Paine, Hector St. John de Crèvecœur, Fredrick Douglas, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc.; and poetry from Walt Whitman to Ada Limón to discover perspectives on American identity that shape our lives and our national ethos.
The APPLICATION DEADLINE is 11:59pm (MST) on Monday, June 1. Spots are limited to 35 students.
Below is the on-line sign up form.