‘Pure Praxis’ provides unique training experience for NASCC personnel

Service members and civilians assigned to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi attended a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Performance Education Workshop by the Long Beach, California-based social theater group, Pure Praxis, Aug 21.

Contracted by the Department of Navy Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Office (DON SAPRO), Pure Praxis provides hands-on theater workshops to educate services members at military installations worldwide.

Pure Praxis’ mission is to promote social change by using live, improvisational theater to re-create difficult real world situations so audiences can rehearse pro-active responses. The word ‘Praxis’ means the act of applying, engaging and practicing ideas, which is precisely what makes Pure Praxis different from typical training programs.

Using a team of skilled and diverse performance facilitators and actor-advocates, Pure Praxis explores topics that are both complex and sensitive in order to empower audiences to become part of the solution. The entirety of every performance is guided by the audiences’ participation, thereby making every show unique.

The hour-long program was based around an interactive theater presentation from four actors tackling the subjects of workplace harassment, awareness and prevention, and bystander intervention among others.

“This type of training is important to me because I put a high emphasis on professionalism in the workplace,” said NASCC Commanding Officer Chris Jason. “I think one of the worst things imaginable would be someone dreading coming to work because of the way they were treated or talked to.”

At key moments, the presentation was paused by the facilitators and the audience was solicited for answers about how they would respond to the scenario. Audience members were also called onto the stage for improvised acting.

“We find that integrating the crowd into the performances allows everybody to feel like they’re on the same page and approach the problems from different roles than they may be accustomed to,” said Jamie Cline, Pure Praxis senior program manager. “We hope that this will help empower folks to stand up and say something in a tough situation, even if the person happens to be a friend or coworker or even someone that outranks them.”

For more information on Pure Praxis, visit www.purepraxis.com or www.facebook.com/purepraxis.

For more information on DON SAPRO visit: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/sapro/.