Interact artists perform as part of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month
As part of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), local arts organization Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts will host an interactive exhibition that will shine the light on abilities and expand ideas of what is possible. The event will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at Beth El Synagogue (5225 Barry St. W., St. Louis Park).
Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month is a unified effort among Jewish organizations worldwide to use common programs to raise awareness and foster inclusion of people with disabilities, their families and those who love them.
Established at JFCS in 2009, JDAIM is observed during February. Its mission is to:
- Elevate Jewish awareness of the way society regards people with disabilities
- Encourage Jews around the world to become more empathetic toward people with disabilities
- Urge Jews to welcome people with disabilities into their communities and personal lives
- Unite Jewish communities to raise awareness and champion inclusion of people with disabilities
Since 1996, Interact’s mission to create art that challenges perceptions of disability has opened doors for artists with disabilities and audiences eager to experience their work. Artists might never have seen the arts as a life choice, but now see the arts as essential to their humanity. With over 100 artists working in theater and studio arts, Interact is multi-cultural, intergenerational and embraces the entire spectrum of disability labels.
Interact pushes the boundaries of traditional art forms by including the unique perceptions of its artists and exemplifies the idea of community integration by supporting artists with and without disabilities working side by side every day.
At the JDAIM event, artists from Interact’s performing and visual arts departments will present their work. The visual artists will showcase their art and talk about how Interact has transformed their lives in myriad of ways. Led by Interact performing arts instructor James Lekatz, artists will perform original songs, acting vignettes and personal stories. The event will include a short video about the artists and a Q&A session as well.
“We’re so excited to have Interact at this event – it is the perfect organization to feature during Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month,” said Stacey Spencer, Inclusion Program Manager for Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS), which is sponsoring the event. “Interact’s work illustrates the mission of JDAIM in a truly unique way.”
The community-wide event, sponsored by JFCS, is free and open to the public. However, reservations are required, as seating is limited. Make your reservation here. The event will include a dessert reception and resource fair. For more information, contact Stacey Spencer, Inclusion Program Manager, at 952-542-4845 or sspencer@jfcsmpls.org.