Vida Manalang

Former Associate, Community Learning

Focus: Personal & Community Wellness

Vida Manalang (they/she) served as the Associate for Community Learning with a focus on personal and community wellness. In this role, they contributed to a portfolio of research, documentation, learning, and professional development projects as well as co-led the Creative Generation Summer Residency Program in 2022.

Vida is a therapist-in-training, theater maker, teaching artist, and researcher. They received their Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Drexel University where they pursued research involving creative engagement in theatre-based arts-integrated curriculum and the role of emotions in acting performance. Vida is currently a graduate student at New York University studying Mental Health and Wellness Counseling. 

Outside of academia, Vida has performed and collaborated with several independent theater companies including Ninth Planet, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists, Shakespeare in Clark Park, and the after-image.

They believe in the power of storytelling to evoke healing. They have specific interest in devised theatrical work and community-generated theater as mechanisms of self-discovery, reflection, and liberation. Vida is dedicated to the facilitation of socially-just, equitable, and inclusive creative spaces for young artists engaging in institutional theater. They deeply value process over product and embrace the necessity of curiosity and gentleness in a world hardened by productivity. Maraming salamat.

Location: Philadelphia, PA & New York, New York, USA

Email: Vida@Creative-Generation.org