Artistic Director Lori Thompson is a graduate of The University of Michigan-Flint with a BA in Theatre/Secondary Education. Lori has been a Secondary School Theatre Teacher in both private and public school systems for the past 15 years. Lori wanted to build a theatre company that focused on Theatre and Social Issues. Trust Theatre Ensemble is an established 501c3 that has produced various productions that focus on the events of 911, HIV/AIDS, the tragic death of 21 year old Laramie, Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, and bullycide: suicide due to bullying. It is Lori’s goal to further educate audiences about the effects of various social issues through the vehicle of theatre. Lori has been recognized by the following organizations for her work in bullying prevention: she received the National Hero Award from the Heroes in the Hallway foundation and their executive director Michael Barrett, YWCA Woman of Achievement by The Flint Journal and she received the Peacemaker of the Year Award by the Genesee County Committee for Community Peace. Lori’s work has been featured on the national television show CBS 48 Hours in their episode Words Can Kill and on CNN the Don Lemon Show.