CircEsteem’s mission is to unite youth across all backgrounds and identities by fostering self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice and performance of circus arts.

Founded in 2001, CircEsteem helps youth build self-esteem and create safe and diverse communities through the learning of circus arts.  During the first half of 2017, CircEsteem worked with more than 750 diverse youth from 21 Chicago neighborhoods through academic enrichment, mentoring, and in-school arts enrichment programming. Youth are supported to build personal development and leadership skills such as self-esteem and teamwork through the training of circus arts utilizing social circus methodology. For the past 20 years, CircEsteem has provided its unique social circus programming throughout the City of Chicago to thousands of youth.

Social circus is an innovative social intervention approach based on using circus arts to impact social change.

Social circus, the methodology used by CircEsteem, is an approach that uses circus arts to impact social change through instilling confidence and leadership in young participants. With this method, the primary goal is not just to learn circus arts, but more importantly, to assist participants’ personal and social development by nurturing their self-esteem and trust in others as well as by helping them to acquire social skills, become active citizens, express their creativity, and realize their potential in a safe, inclusive environment. Social circus is a powerful catalyst for creating change because it opens the door for youths who are marginalized or made to feel excluded to think loudly, unabashedly, and without limitations or borders when it comes to their hopes and dreams. Through CircEsteem programs, teaching artists and staff want to continue to plant the seed of hope and achievability across the city of Chicago, especially in the communities where youths need to hear and see that their goals and talents matter, too.

Our Statement on Acceptance:

CircEsteem pledges to create an environment within our headquarters that will function as a safe space when you need assistance, or need to be alone, or need to be around others who feel the same as you do. CircEsteem is determined to provide a respectful and supportive space for all. 

We will continue to strive towards creating a space where you can: 

• safely discover who you are
• always know that you’ll be heard
• allow yourself to be vulnerable and build an emotional connection with those around you