Mission StatementThe Arts with Passion (TAWP) is the first Monroe based theatre company that strives to make a difference in the community by educating, entertaining, and empowering individuals about the arts.
TAWP brings together groups of talented people and provides opportunities for individuals in the community to express themselves and explore their unique, individual talents. TAWP changes lives one by one through advising and scholarship programs that inspire the area teens to follow their dreams and passion. |
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History
Upon her graduation with a double-major in business from the University of Louisiana Monroe, Pashen Sims, a Monroe, LA native who founded the Arts with Passion (TAWP), moves to Atlanta, GA in pursuit of a professional business career. This transition was difficult for Sims. However, she was able to find inner peace and freedom through the arts in Atlanta.
In 2010, the death of her brother summons her to return to her hometown. It was the community that has always been there for Sims in tough times. It was the community that helped her cope with the heavy pain of loss. And it was the community she wanted to remain in and help improve. Driven by this ambition, Sims decided to stay in Monroe.
Well-educated and experienced, Sims could have easily found a job in her field. However, she now wanted to pursue a different dream. A dream of improving individual lives and bettering the community through the arts.
At first, Sims thought Monroe lacked a creative spirit. She noticed that many kids she has grown up with had gone down the wrong path. These kids had so much potential; these kids had so much talent, but these kids had nobody to guide them. She then realized that Monroe perhaps doesn’t lack a creative spirit but instead lacked opportunities for youth to find themselves artistically and succeed. All she needed now was a chance to provide this opportunity to the area teens.
The chance came on July 12, 2014 when a local non-profit organization designed to empower people to make a difference in their community, New Light Economic Empowerment Cooperation (NLEEC), asked their members to come up with ideas for fundraisers. Sims, as a member of NLEEC, suggested doing a Dinner Theatre to which NLEEC agreed. She chose a play titled, "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry that became her directorial debut.
The success of this production encouraged Sims to form an organization that would provide a platform for various artists year-round. She combined her expertise in business with her passion for the arts with ambition to bring a piece of her experience from Atlanta to Monroe. Her goal was clear: to educate, entertain and empower individuals through the arts and to encourage area teens to never doubt their potential. TAWP was born.
Today, TAWP consists of a group of talented people who love the arts and enjoy educating, entertaining, and empowering individuals about it. This group includes creative actors, crew members, directors, set designers, and more. And while each member of this group has its own role, they all play an even bigger role: inspiring the youth to follow their dreams and passion.
In 2010, the death of her brother summons her to return to her hometown. It was the community that has always been there for Sims in tough times. It was the community that helped her cope with the heavy pain of loss. And it was the community she wanted to remain in and help improve. Driven by this ambition, Sims decided to stay in Monroe.
Well-educated and experienced, Sims could have easily found a job in her field. However, she now wanted to pursue a different dream. A dream of improving individual lives and bettering the community through the arts.
At first, Sims thought Monroe lacked a creative spirit. She noticed that many kids she has grown up with had gone down the wrong path. These kids had so much potential; these kids had so much talent, but these kids had nobody to guide them. She then realized that Monroe perhaps doesn’t lack a creative spirit but instead lacked opportunities for youth to find themselves artistically and succeed. All she needed now was a chance to provide this opportunity to the area teens.
The chance came on July 12, 2014 when a local non-profit organization designed to empower people to make a difference in their community, New Light Economic Empowerment Cooperation (NLEEC), asked their members to come up with ideas for fundraisers. Sims, as a member of NLEEC, suggested doing a Dinner Theatre to which NLEEC agreed. She chose a play titled, "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry that became her directorial debut.
The success of this production encouraged Sims to form an organization that would provide a platform for various artists year-round. She combined her expertise in business with her passion for the arts with ambition to bring a piece of her experience from Atlanta to Monroe. Her goal was clear: to educate, entertain and empower individuals through the arts and to encourage area teens to never doubt their potential. TAWP was born.
Today, TAWP consists of a group of talented people who love the arts and enjoy educating, entertaining, and empowering individuals about it. This group includes creative actors, crew members, directors, set designers, and more. And while each member of this group has its own role, they all play an even bigger role: inspiring the youth to follow their dreams and passion.