Epic partners with the Northeast Independent Living Program in Lawrence, MA to bring socially-minded theatre to teenagers, who use wheelchairs, are cognitively disabled or are deaf. The partnership uses theatrical creation and performance of stories centered on themes of overcoming challenges to help define their own strengths, present them to their community, and become excited by their ability to promote social change through drama. In addition to working with emotionally & cognitively disabled students we now also work with a group of youth who are at-risk for academic failure from the local Lawrence community. Each year we train four students from the High School Epic co-founded in the Bronx as assistant Teaching Artists in residence.