Their Story
“At Housing Families, we are a nonprofit organization working to achieve housing equity and well-being for all. Our roots began in 1986 when local community members created an organization to address the crisis of homelessness in the Greater Boston cities of Malden, Medford, and Everett”.
Mission
Ensure housing stability to strengthen families, individuals, and communities.
Vision
Achieve housing equity and well-being for all. Housing Families provides program space, family outreach, and wrap-around support, while we deliver arts-based enrichment that addresses the social-emotional needs of children facing housing insecurity.
“This theater program, created in partnership with Housing Families, is rooted in our shared belief that every child deserves not only safety and stability, but also joy, imagination, and the chance to express their inner world. Many of the children we hope to serve have experienced trauma, instability, and emotional hardship. I have seen firsthand how theater—when approached with care and intentionality—can become a powerful therapeutic space. In some cases, it reaches places that traditional therapy cannot.
Through role-playing, storytelling, and collaborative creation, theater enables children to explore emotions, reframe their narratives, and reconnect with their innate sense of play. It is not merely an extracurricular activity—it is a vehicle for emotional regulation, social learning, and identity development.” - Graciela Femenia
Benefits of this work:
- Emotional Expression & Healing: Theater helps children to process difficult emotions, develop empathy, and build emotional resilience.
- Confidence & Self-Worth: Performing in a supportive environment empowers children to find their personal voice and gain confidence.
- Social Skills & Connection: Working as an ensemble promotes teamwork, mutual respect, and the building of trust and friendships.
- Creative Exploration & Stress Relief: Theater invites children to imagine new possibilities, providing a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety.
Theater activates imagination, stimulates new neural pathways, and enhances essential life skills—such as collaboration, creativity, public speaking, and emotional expression. Even when these benefits are not immediately quantifiable, they leave a lasting imprint. For children who have experienced trauma or instability, simply being part of a supportive group where they feel seen and heard can significantly boost their sense of self-worth and agency. At a minimum, they walk away having experienced a safe, affirming space. In the best case scenario, these experiences become cornerstones of emotional resilience and confidence later in life.
Our Journey So Far
Phase 1 (Fall 2025):
We introduced a flexible, drop-in theater format designed for accessibility. We worked with two age groups once a week, providing a consistent and welcoming space for creative exploration.
Phase 2 (Spring 2026):
From Process to Performance
We have transitioned into a performance-based cycle where participants are taking the lead as creators. The children and teens are collaboratively developing an original performance piece to be shared with their families and the community. This phase is a celebration of their unique voices, their journey of growth, and the power of teamwork.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Reach
Building on the success of our Malden program, we are preparing to expand to Housing Families’ Woburn location in the second half of 2026. Our goal is to bring this vital space for healing and expression to even more young people, strengthening our commitment to the communities we serve.
Inclusion serves as the foundational message woven throughout this program