Like many of our participants at HYT, Dorothy is a young person who is finding her voice. She begins, surrounded by familiar people and places and goes on to discover a new world that stretches, baffles and challenges her. When she returns to her own home, it is with a newfound purpose and confidence. We never know what lesson, show, song, book or interaction with others or nature will inspire us on the way to self-discovery. There is nothing more magical than realizing that you are prepared to move forward on your own. You have the skills to speak, to make an impression, to impact change in some way. You’ve “got “this! Everyone’s journey is different, yet that thrill of independence is universal. Ironically, Dorothy’s journey begins as she tries to protect another-Toto. At HYT, we are thrilled to make an artistic statement about our joy in returning “back home” to our theater space at Wiley. By focusing on a piece that celebrates place and community, The Wizard of Oz reminds us to give thanks for the spaces and faces that we may take for granted, and that we each have the power for change. There’s no place like home!