Puppets Help Build Community

PPL’s Early Wonders preschool in Minneapolis and Wilkins Townhomes in St. Paul hosted Open Eye Figure Theatre’s Driveway Tour on two separate occasions in August.

The Driveway Tour brings the puppet show to your doorstep, or literally in your driveway. Both events gave PPL staff the opportunity to deepen their relationships with participants and better connect with neighbors, increasing the sense of community around our facilities.

Families from Early Wonders and area neighbors gathered on PPL’s Bethlehem Community Center’s lawn to cheer and laugh along with the puppets.

At the Wilkins Townhomes, youth that normally only sit still for a few seconds, were spellbound for the entire puppet show. Young dads at the townhomes who are always “too cool” to participate in activities came to ‘just check it out’ but stayed for the entire show. PPL staff estimate that neighbors made-up approximately 46% of the audience in Minneapolis and 57% in St. Paul.

The shows created a safe, accessible, and fun way for community members to gather together.

link to Open Eye Figure Theatre http://www.openeyetheatre.org/