Cathedral Park Performing Arts Collective (CPPAC) is a non-profit organization serving greater St. Johns and surrounding north Portland communities. CPPAC offers music, theatre arts, and dance classes, ensembles, and workshops that convey principles of self-determination. CPPAC operates on the belief that self-determination, a sense of freedom and motivation to do what is interesting, personally important, and vitalizing, is instrumental to the creative process and a key component to achieving one’s goals. Through passion, practice, and the art of performance, life-long learners at every stage can enjoy the benefits of the arts through our programming at CPPAC. From our Early Stages Music & Movement classes to our Adult Improv classes, we strive to offer engaging classes for everyone with ample opportunities to showcase skills and growth through community performances. Great emphasis is placed on performance, as performing is a powerful learning tool and an effective means towards a healthier spiritual, academic, and social life. It requires effective communication, collaboration, and respect of the process of creating something together. CPPAC believes that empowering the individual leads to active and engaged participants in the group process. As the demands of work and family require that we function in the context of a group, our classes and workshops teach specific skills necessary for future success. Again, performance is our avenue to teach these invaluable life skills.