History
Victory – Transformed by Truth
Based in East Baltimore Midway, we are organized on community access principles and the belief that art, in all its forms, is essential to the human spirit and well-being. In 2006, from the vision of Claveron E. Burston Jr. (Clae), to see people uplifted out of despair, helplessness, and hopelessness, he and Tonisha "Keyinta" Boyd co-founded Artistic Laborers in Visual Exaltation Inc. (A.L.I.V.E). The primary purpose was to use the arts to help people of all backgrounds lead a lifestyle of victory. We feel that arts and culture should be an integral and conscious part of everyone’s life. Partnered with co-founder of LEAP Theatre, Stephen Holloway, we set about weaving the arts back into the fabric of our community. The early years (2006-2017) were grassroots efforts realized through poetry, dramatic presentations, dances, spoken word, music, story-telling, full theatrical productions, and summer camp partnerships.
To better serve the community, the organization became a 501(c)(3) non-profit, established in January 2018. The activities of A.L.I.V.E are to stimulate, develop and promote interest in the performing arts, and to educate young individuals in the field of performing arts, to bring the performing arts to areas and population centers that are not adequately served in this respect. The activities of the organization include producing plays and making theatre available to the community. A.L.I.V.E’s presentations include, but are not be limited to themes of faith, hope, love, and peace. A.L.I.V.E engages community members, professional artists and parents to support these young people and teach them the skills that they need to write, prepare and perform original and repertory works. We know that young people are the future and are incredibly challenged by today’s world, so we try to give them tools to build successful and fulfilling lives.
