Miami, Florida—Lip Service announced today it will use a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to tell the stories of all of South Florida’s communities.

Lip Service showcases true, personal stories.  Every quarter, eight stories are selected from hundreds of submissions.  These stories are edited and rehearsed, then read by their authors in front of live, sold-out crowds.  Through the writing and editing process, personal stories are transformed into art.

With the help of this grant, Lip Service will target communities whose stories are seldom told: illegal immigrants, homeless people, veterans, prisoners, teens, etc.  The grant will also help Lip Service make stories accessible to more people through YouTube, podcasts, and television with their ongoing partnership with WPBT, Channel 2.

“Storytelling is what brings a community together,” said Esther Martinez, co-creator of Lip Service.  “Through stories we realize that we’re really all the same.  People are hungry for stories—for connection—which is why Lip Service is such a huge success.  With a grant from the Knight Foundation, we’ll reach more people and tell more stories.”

Lip Service is receiving funding through the Knight Arts Challenge, a community-wide contest to bring South Florida together through the arts.

*“Lip Service helps more people see themselves as artists and creative beings, making South Florida a more dynamic and vibrant place to live,”

said Dennis Scholl, vice president for arts at Knight Foundation.*

The next Lip Service show features holiday stories, December 8, 2012 at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables.  Tickets are on sale at www.lipservicestories.com.