Our History
Dr. Patricia Newman founded the idea and the model for what has become the R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 program in the spring of 2000. She developed a volunteer, community collaboration and the funding to bring educational theatre, for the purpose of addressing violence in the relationships of children, to Omaha. In the summer of 2001, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 built a cast of Omaha actors to further develop this concept. Since this time, the company has been writing and producing professional, educational theatre productions for children and teens throughout Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Together they have produced and directed 15 violence prevention plays and have presented and facilitated over 1800 performances of these plays. By the end of the 2008-2009 school year, over 215,000 students will have participated in their programs. Further, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 is responsible for developing the educational goals and objectives that guide their professionally facilitated discussions and the resource and evaluation materials that have been developed for participating teachers, students, and parents. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 began its work utilizing the not for profit umbrellas of the National Council of Jewish Women — Omaha Section, Girl Scouts Great Plains Council and the Jewish Federation of Omaha. In the summer of 2004, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 received its own not for profit status and number. In the 2008-2009 school year R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 performed 313 plays, averaging over 8 shows per week.
Dr. Patricia Newman is a clinical child psychologist and a nationally certified school psychologist. She holds additional graduate degrees in education and special education. Dr. Newman is in private practice with Family Enrichment, Inc. and works as a medical consultant for the Nebraska Department of Disability Determination Services. Previously the family therapy service director for Catholic Charities of Omaha, Dr. Newman began working to provide educational theatre programs to students in 2000. Dr. Newman was recently awarded the YWCA Tribute to Women Award for her work in the areas of Human Service and Community Advocacy. She is also the recipient of the Nebraska School Psychologist Association's "Psychologist of the Year" award; the Cultural Adult Program Award from the United Way of the Midlands; the Leadership Award for Prevention of Domestic Violence Programming from the YWCA; and the Community Service Award from the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Dr. Newman is the author of the plays "SPELLING IT OUT," "SCRAPS," and "CRACKED, BUT NOT BROKEN."
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