Two years ago HAI introduced The Respect Project to student audiences throughout New York City. An innovative production created and performed by a cast of city youths and inspired and directed by Tony Award winning choreographer George Faison, the performance communicates a plea to audiences for respect. Through monologues, Rap, dance and song, the cast tells their own stories of urban and domestic violence and painful life experiences in which respect was often denied. George Faison, the first African-American Director/Choreographer to win a Tony Award (The Wiz, 1975), worked closely with HAI staff to assemble a group of students who had the energy, dedication and interest to create a performance piece. Auditions were followed by workshops conducted over several months, which enabled the selected youths to generate subject material for the finished presentation.

The Respect Project has produced a tremendous response from school staff and students. Claudia Resch, a teacher at Richard R. Green High School of Teaching very poignantly caught the Project's essence when she wrote that "Many students deal with the social issues that you explored but, unfortunately, these issues are rarely discussed. It is essential that young people respect themselves and others to create a fulfilled and successful life. This performance was a unique, memorable and exciting way to learn about invaluable information that will enhance the lives of our young people."