Gary Garrison, Co-Executive Director, Dramatist Guild Of America
The Future Of The Theater and Developing Audiences

How can arts organizations attract the sports audience? What can we do to increase audience development? Are there tools that are available to us that we are not taking full advantage of? Let's talk about it.

Gary Garrison is a playwright and author, as well as the Executive Director for Creative Affairs of the Dramatists Guild of America. The former Artistic Director and Division Head of Playwriting for the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at the Tisch School of the Arts, he continues working with graduate playwrights each semester as an active faculty member. Full Bio

March 16, 2012, 7PM

Silvia Lozano & Peggy Baker
A Panel Discussion With The Dance Divas - Moderated by Patrice Walker Powell

Recognized as one of the modern dance world's finest teachers, Peggy Baker was director of dance for the Contemporary Arts Summer Institute at Simon Fraser University from 1991 - 1994. She teaches regularly at universities and professional training programs throughout Canada and the U.S. including the Juilliard School, the School at Jacob's Pillow, American Dance Festival, NYU, UC Santa Barbara, York University and the School of Toronto Dance Theatre

The Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico Aztlan was founded in May of 1966 by the talented Maestra, Silvia Lozano, who has been to this date the Artistic Director and Choreographer of this world acclaimed ballet. Since its existence the Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico Aztlan has collaborated with the most prominent researchers and experts on Mexican folklore, dance, music and traditional costumes.

Patrice Walker Powell is the deputy chairwoman for programs and partnerships states at the National Endowment for the Arts where she has worked since 1991. She was named acting chairwoman of the federal arts agency in 2009 until President Obama announced a permanent replacement for Dana Gioia, who resigned after six years on the job.

June 28, 2012, 7PM

Ellis Cose, Journalist/Author
The End of Anger: A New Generation's Take On Race And Rage

A longtime columnist and contributing editor (1993 through 2010) for Newsweek magazine and former chairman of the editorial board and editorial page editor of the New York Daily News, Ellis began his journalism career as a weekly columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times-becoming, at the age of 19, the youngest editorial page columnist ever employed by a major Chicago daily. Cose, who is also an independent radio producer, is a campus lecturer, and public speaker Full Bio

August 23, 2012, 7PM

Dr. Eleanor Renee Rodriguez, Author/Educational Consultant
Learning Through a Cultural Difference Lens

Does your child struggle with learning in a traditional classroom setting? How can we approach teaching through a nontraditional lens? Is there a way to set up a better support system for kids with learning differences? Let's talk about it.

Eleanor Renee Rodriguez is currently a consultant for Rodriguez and Associates, providing professional development opportunities for educators and education administrators throughout the United States and abroad. She is the co-author of the books What Is It About Me You Can't Teach? and Valuing Diversity in the School System. Full Bio

January 12, 2012, 6:30PM