The Empathy Project is an interactive performance about the struggles of refugees moving across the world, and was performed on October 12 at the Hoover Public Library as part of the "Stories of Exile" project, a reading and discussion program to engage teens and adults in thinking about experiences of displacement, migration, and diaspora. The performance was written and directed by Anne Ledvina, long-time ALIRP volunteer and supporter, and the cast included Karina Cortes, former ALIRP board member.   The performance was live-streamed and is now available on the Hoover Library YouTube channel at this link. 

The Empathy Project is a story of the 89.3 million people forced to migrate from their homes to seek refuge from conflict, starvation, violence, persecution, and climate disasters. It is also a story about the global community and our response to people in exile. This performance project allows us to better understand the migration crisis by sharing the stories of real people whose lives have been destroyed, forcing them to flee for their survival and seeking refuge from those of us fortunate to have a home, attend school, grow and shop for food, develop our professional skills, own a business and make a contribution to our communities.

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