Hyattsville Students Take Center Stage Through Theater Tech Program

Ingrid Argueta just completed audio/visual training at Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Joe’s Theater Tech Program is a workforce development program, which addresses the lack of employment opportunities for young people in Prince George’s County. According to the Prince George’s County Youth Workforce Profile (published in 2010), 74 percent of youth ages 16-19 and 36 percent of youth ages 20-24 are unemployed.

In 2009, in response to a number of inquiries from teens for employment, Joe’s launched TTP to prepare skilled workers for the A/V, hospitality, and theater industries and local businesses.

Argueta, a Brentwood resident and senior at just finished learning about movie production. She helped make a movie using Joe’s actors.

“They came to school and it seemed interesting and a great opportunity to learn something,” she said.

This is Argueta’s first job.

“It’s a new discovery for me,” she said of her after school employment.

Argueta wants to pursue a degree in Computer Science at Prince George’s Community College once she graduates from Northwestern. Her work at Joe’s has helped her learn more about computer work also.

“It’s definitely opened new doors and great opportunities,” she said. “It’s a wonderful program for teenagers because they help a lot.”

While the program is primarily focused on job training, it also offers tutoring, college preparation and mentorship. Over 90 percent of the TTP participants to date have graduated from high school in a county where the average graduation rate is under 60 percent, according to a press release from Charles Phaneuf, who works with the program.

TTP graduates have been placed at area arts organizations such as Publick Playhouse, the Prince George’s County Arts Council, the City of Mount Rainier, and Levine School of Music.

Gustavo Trejo of Hyattsville is a graduate of the TTP and now works at Joe’s.

He didn’t have much direction for his future after graduation from Northwestern High, until he heard about Joe’s Theater Tech Program. He spends much of his work time at Joe’s making sure that performers have what they need and setting up lights for concerts.

He also plans to attend PGCC and study something in the technology field.