To Educate & Empower

USING ART & ACTIVIST LAWYERING
TO DISRUPT SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION
AND RECLAIM POWER WITH THE PEOPLE.

The Mission of Uprise Theatre is to use art and activist lawyering to disrupt systems of oppression and reclaim power with the people.

The Vision of Uprise Theatre is that now will be the time in history in which all peoples are treated by the legal system as full human beings with corresponding full human rights.

We maintain the Values of Uprise Theatre by being authentic in the way we relate to ourselves and others; we are unapologetic in our desire of liberation for all people; and we are a community-based organization.

                                          
We do this through: 

ART
Uprise believes art can and should be used to promote social justice. The best example of how we use art to promote empowerment is our flagship theatre program: a legal course that teaches topics including domestic violence, immigration, sexual assault, LGBTQ+ rights and hate crimes, 4th and 5th Amendment rights, and gang and conspiracy charges.

Participants of the program, turned peer-educators, re-teach the information they have learned to the community through live performances. Listen to our first ever podcast-play!

We also use beautiful posters to educate people on their legal rights. These poster are available for free download on our website.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FORUMS
Uprise contributes legal knowledge and skills to the people, striving for investment and empowerment of community members in the legal process. Please contact us if you or your organization are interested in having us present.

LEGAL SERVICES
As an extension of our Know Your Right Forums, Uprise is a core organization with FREE SD and provides limited legal coaching for folks facing criminal charges.

Uprise also believes that access to justice should be for everyone, without attorneys serving as gatekeepers of that information. We have created a Template and How To Database for basic legal information.

LEGAL CLINICS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
As an organization rooted in Southeast San Diego, we are dedicated to provide social justice on all fronts. The environmental and systemic racism exhibited during the January 2024 floods devastated our communities. We are here to help with legal services for those impacted. Our clinic is mobile, traveling to different locations every week. We are offering help with evictions, FEMA applications, insurance appeals, and small claims petitions. You can check out our calendar here to see where we will be for the week.
 
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Manifesto image

UPRISE MANIFESTO
We, as ghetto children, recognize that we have been born with an inherent toughness.
One that has enabled us to survive. We now proclaim that survival is not enough. We long to flourish in ways unexpected of us.
Using weapons of non-violence we will overcome barriers with pen and paper, art, dance, poetry, acting and performance.
We will uprise first within our communities, and after everywhere anywhere we find ourselves.
We recognize that we are women men nonbinary mothers fathers teachers students criminal leaders queer straight immigrant native.
Therefore we believe in universal uprisal. Plant your roots firmly, and extend towards the sky. Wherever you are, whoever you are, rise up now.

Annie Rios, Esq.

Executive Director

Elena Ceja, MHA

Board President

Martha Charles

Board Treasurer

Leticia Rojas, Ed.D.

Board Secretary

Travis Atkinson, Esq.

Board Member

Carlos Ayala

Board Member

Know Your Rights Posters

Download our Know Your Rights Posters for free and share them with your community.

Learn More

Coloring Pages

We all need to rest and heal. Use our coloring pages to practice peace and promote liberation.

Learn More
$25

Donation Amount

  • San Diego, California, United States

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