Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Farb Morris and Vikki Evans.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Susan and Vikki. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Houston-based ReelAbilities Film and Arts Festival, a city-wide festival promoting inclusion and celebrating the lives and talents of people living with disabilities, returns for its sixth year Feb. 12-22, 2018. ReelAbilities Houston is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting inclusion for people with disabilities through the arts. The mission of ReelAbilities is to utilize the arts as a vehicle to both educate and change perceptions about individuals living with disabilities. Launched in New York in 2007, Houston is one of cities expanding the festival throughout the country. JFS Alexander Institute for Inclusion, a division of the JFS, is Houston’s host organizer which seeks to foster a community that includes all individuals by eliminating the stigma associated with disabilities. Lead support is provided by TIRR Memorial Hermann (Founding Partner) and The Bristow Group. The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities is a key collaborator for the festival along with over 50 community organizations.
We both share a passion for inclusion and have actively helped to share ReelAbilities Houston’s messages of inclusion over the last several years. We’re excited to work in tandem to create and organize the 2018 festival, helping to enrich Houston’s diverse culture and eliminate barriers to accessibility in arts, culture, education and employment.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s important to bring people living with disabilities to the forefront of the conversation, but it hasn’t been the easiest road. The mission of ReelAbilities is to educate and change perceptions about individuals living with disabilities. We challenge ourselves with this mission every day and we look forward to taking on this challenge this year.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Houston is considered one of the most innovative cities hosting ReelAbilities, as this festival utilizes multiple avenues to further educate and inform members of the community. For instance, ReelArt, a gallery exhibit at the Center for Art and Photography at Celebration Company, will kick off the festival on Feb. 12 from 6-8 p.m. and stay on display throughout the 11-day festival. The event will feature a meet-and-greet with visiting artist Brandon Lack, a talented artist from Austin who has Down syndrome and more than 20 exhibiting Celebration Company artists living with disabilities. Operated by JFS Houston’s Disability Services Program, Celebration Company is a Houston-based entrepreneurial program composed of 20 adult artists living with disabilities who create art for both a leisure activity and a life skill. In the middle of the festival, the festival’s film portion presents award-winning works by and about people with different disabilities and will be held at Edwards Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24 from Sunday, February 18 to Thursday, February 22, 2018. Visitors can see up to 14 films followed by an interactive panel that fosters dialogue between the audience, the filmmaker, parents, professionals, persons with disabilities and that explore the particular subjects depicted in the film.
Movie admission and parking will be free for festival-goers but you must reserve tickets.
Another unique offering to ReelAbilities Houston is UP Abilities – a series of intellectually-stimulating discussions with three thought leaders from across the world on Feb. 15 from 7-9 p.m. Finally, we have ReelMusic. ReelMusic is an all-inclusive jazz and blues music jam session where professional musicians invite artists with disabilities to perform. This event will close the festival on Feb. 22 at White Oak Music Hall from 7-9 p.m., Dee Dee Dochen, Houston jazz vocalist, will chair and emcee the high-energy musical evening.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
With Houston being such a diverse community, we’re excited to put people living with disabilities at the forefront of the conversation with the hopes that this festival will educate others about the country’s largest minority.
Pricing:
- UP Abilities tickets are $18 and registration is required at www.ReelAbilitiesHouston.org.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4131 S Braeswood Blvd, Houston, Texas 77025.
- To learn more about becoming a ReelAbilities sponsor, please contact JFS Chief Development Officer Rachel Davis at rdavis@jfshouston.com or 713-667-9336 ext. 213
- Website: www.reelabilitieshouston.org
- Phone: 713-667-9336 ext. 213
- Email: rdavis@jfshouston.com
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/reelabilitieshouston/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ReelAbilitiesHouston/
- Twitter:https://twitter.com/reelabilityhou
Image Credit:
ReelAbilities, Blind Date, Swim Team, At Eye Level, ReelMusic, UP Abilities and ReelArt
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