establish and promote a community of successful, independent learners

In the spring of 2019, PCTC began a drama program with Harvey Milk High School (HMHS) in Manhattan.

HMHS is a small transfer school with a mission to establish and promote a community of successful, independent learners by creating a safe educational environment for all young people. Harvey Milk offers an alternative, small school environment for students in grades 10-12 who have not found success in at least one other high school previously. The school strives to provide all students with a rigorous academic experience for college and career readiness that emphasizes critical thinking skills and student collaboration. This nurturing educational setting at HMHS not only promotes academic success, but it also fosters and supports a diverse, self-respecting, confident community.

The school was founded in 1985 as a small, two-room program with just over a dozen students by HMI in collaboration with the New York City Department of Education’s Career Education Center. The Department of Education administers the school and is responsible for admissions. Harvey Milk was created as an alternative education program for youth who find it difficult or impossible to attend their home schools due to threats, violence, or harassment.

Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director Joseph W. Rodriguez, PCTC’s Harvey Milk Outreach Program enriches the curricular experience of students through the exploration of and connection to the arts and self-expression. In an inclusive, non-binary, non- judgmental environment, PCTC strives to empower students to be more confident, collaborative, caring, and compassionate. Most importantly, PCTC provides a safe space for the students to express themselves in an open, honest, and constructive way.