The PTP Academy, provided by the People's Theatre Project, is a demanding, multi-year theatre and social justice leadership program. It is dedicated to the comprehensive growth of immigrant youth and youth of color in Upper Manhattan. The academy is envisioned as an artistic laboratory that nurtures a profound sense of belonging, providing a courageous space where participants can be themselves and foster their social-emotional learning as young artists and leaders. The Academy is entirely scholarship-based, ensuring broad accessibility. The PTP Academy engages students from the 6th to 12th grades in a 6-year trajectory to cultivate leadership and activism abilities through ensemble-based theatre-making. The young artists and their families commit to this endeavor by signing a middle or high school contract. The core curriculum includes a theatre-devising course and participation in a range of performance opportunities, from in-studio performances to producing the annual We the People festival. Other offerings include arts and activism electives, college and career readiness opportunities, excursions to Broadway or Off-Broadway shows, and a 2-week summer theatre intensive. Collaborations with local organizations also provide young artists with priority access to resources and opportunities. The PTP Academy is conducted in-person at the NoMAA Studios at the United Palace Theater, located in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan. The audition process for the Academy, which takes place annually, is designed to assess enthusiasm, commitment, collaboration, and creativity. It does not require prior acting experience. The auditions involve group activities that explore ways to collaborate with other young artists and express creativity in various ways. Upon completion of the PTP Academy, students are expected to have honed their leadership skills, activism, and ensemble-based theatre-making abilities. They will have experienced a variety of performance opportunities and have been exposed to diverse arts and activism electives.