Rachel Balaban speaking at the RITAC 6 x 6 event at the Gamm Theatre
On February 6, 2017, Rachel Balaban joined artists, community members, teachers, and healthcare professionals at a gathering at the Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket, RI for the 4th in a series of 6x6 events sponsored by the RI Teaching Artists Center (RITAC). 6 x 6 is a fast-paced educational event where 6 teaching artists present for 6 minutes each. The event is designed to inform and motivate teaching artists, as well as the communities they work with-- learning, making, inspiring and healing. This month’s topic was inclusion and Rachel was excited to be invited as one of their featured artists. Since inclusion is at the heart of the work being done by ASaP with Brown students as well as those with movement challenges in DAPpers class, she was thrilled to share the ASaP story with the audience.
Other distinguished guest artists included:
Len Cabral, International Storyteller and Children's Book Author
Jeannine Chartier, Executive Director of VSA Arts Rhode Island, an organization promoting active inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts
Loren Spears, Executive Director of the Tomaquag Museum, and author published in a variety of publications such as Dawnland Voices, An Anthology of Indigenous Writing of New England
Melodie Thompson, storyteller, special education teacher, Founding Director of Worship Arts Restoration
Valerie Tutson, Founding Member and Executive Director of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers and Director of FUNDA FEST.