Realize, Inc. was conceived and founded by Jeanne Demers in 1993. The initial focus of the company was on street performing street people. Ms. Demers met and worked with New York City street poet Poet-O, producing video and audiotapes of his life and work, volunteering at the soup kitchens where Poet-O ate, and involving him in theatrical performances. Realize, Inc. produced these performances off-Broadway at The Conservatory Theatre, One Dream Theatre and the University Settlements “Take Back the Park” outdoor summer festival.
In 1996 Realize, Inc. went on to work with the New York City jazz community. In conjunction with Outward Visions, Inc. and the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, Realize, Inc. produced the ” Business As Unusual ” Jazz Business Seminars, providing musicians with the information they need to take control of their own careers.
In 1997 Realize, Inc. began its A.C.E. (Artists Changing Education) Program. Aimed at giving artists the opportunity to enhance education, A.C.E. went into Saugerties High School in upstate New York to work with 7th and 8th grade students. Together the artists and students explored the structure that underlies most of the world’s stories and myths in an effort to create an after school program for 3rd – 6th grade students.
The following year, Realize joined forces with the Center for Creative Education — who had been piloting a “Hero’s Journey” after school program at Meyers Elementary School. Over a ten week period a team of artists of various disciplines — assisted by Saugerties 7th and 8th graders — brought “The Hero’s Journey” after school program to elementary schools in Ulster County. An original Hero’s Journey play was written, produced and performed by the 3rd-6th grade students. Through the Center for Creative Education “The Hero’s Journey” went on to be implemented throughout Ulster and Duchess County elementary schools.
In 1998 Realize, Inc. supported 15-year-old Sydney Chaffe in forming S.H.A.T.T.E.R. (Students Helping And Teaching Tolerance and Encouraging Resistance), an after school program focused on the awareness and prevention of violence against women. It taught girls how to defend themselves in dangerous situations. The program culminated with the girls taking the R.A.D. (Rape, Aggression Defense) Basic Physical Defense Program.
From 1998 to 2002 Realize, Inc. presented “Break The Rules” workshops for performing artists in New York City. “Break The Rules” worked with artists interested in thinking outside the box and creating their own place in the business by identifying their deepest dreams, creating accountability, setting short and long-term goals, action planning and networking – all toward the attainment of an ‘Outrageous Goal’.
Throughout the early 2000’s Realize, Inc. provided development support for The Ruby Books – a funk fairytale written to inspire the world to realize what matters. In 2008 TheRubyBooks.org was created so that the Ruby character could share her love of journaling, cartooning and The Hero’s Journey story structure and inspire girls in the process of finding and sharing their great girl voices.
WeStopHate.org was conceived and created in 2010 by 16-year-old Emily-Anne Rigal to raise teen-esteem through the power of online videos and social media. A YouTube channel featuring videos made by teens sharing their personal experiences about overcoming insecurities and providing confidence tips to growing the WeStopHate community (with nearly a half a million total upload views as of this writing).
