ROTARY LUNCHEON: Lauren Kivowitz and Inclusive Arts

Lauren Kivowitz will share about the background that led to founding Inclusive Arts and discuss some of the exciting projects that she has participated in, including working with the American Conservatory Theater to develop the first ever sensory-friendly performance in San Francisco. Lauren will also share some background context about language, neurodiversity, and where ableism exists in the arts, and offer practical tips for how we can actively reflect on building more inclusive practices into our work and lives.

Lauren is a performer, teaching artist, and inclusion advocate. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Theater and has worked at the intersection of theater, disability, advocacy, and education for more than a decade.

As an actor, Lauren has performed across theatrical genres, with a particular fondness for musical theater and improv comedy.

As a teaching artist, Lauren’s pedagogy is founded in the celebration of assets; she believes in valuing the uniqueness of each individual and not only destigmatizing but celebrating difference. She facilitates classes for folks of all ages and abilities and is delighted by finding as many ways as possible to incorporate multi-sensory exploration. In 2020 she received the ArtCare Arts Learning Achievement Award for the residency she teaches at AccessSFUSD: The Arc, a program for young people with disabilities transitioning out of high school.

As an advocate, Lauren has focused her career on supporting folks with disabilities in being able to enjoy and participate in creative and performing arts. She is the founder of Inclusive Arts, an organization whose mission is to create opportunities to engage in critical dialogue and meaningful action surrounding issues of access, inclusion, and ableism in the arts.

In the last few years, Lauren has facilitated workshops for arts organizations, disability service providers, educators, and theater companies. She has spoken on panels and presented about her work at national conferences, and performed on HBO’s autism benefit program, the Night of Too Many Stars. In December 2022, she also spearheaded American Conservatory Theater’s first ever sensory-friendly performance of A Christmas Carol and is excited to be working with more theaters to create similar opportunities around the country.

A three-course lunch will be served. If you require a vegetarian, gluten free, or vegan lunch, please email Past President Mary Liu.

For Club members and visitors, there is a $45 charge for in-person attendance (which covers the cost of your lunch). NOTE: For those who wish to participate via Zoom, there is a $10 fee to attend.

Click here to register for in-person attendance.

Click here to register for attendance via Zoom. 

For in-person attendees: The cost for in-person registration will remain $45 if you register early until 11:59 AM on Friday, May 12, 2023. When the clock strikes noon on Friday, May 12, 2023, the price will go up to $60. If you show up at the door on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 as a walk-in, you will be charged $60. Please note that once Past President Mary Liu provides the headcount to the Hotel Nikko on the Friday before our Tuesday meeting, we will be billed for that count regardless of whether you show or not. 

Parking: If you are driving to the Hotel Nikko for this meeting, please leave your car with the Hotel Nikko valet. Pick up a validation sticker available at our check-in table. The discounted parking is $17.50 for three hours.

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