Christopher Rapisarda Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

As Managing Director, my portfolio consists of all Urban Gateways arts performances for young people. These are typically offered at schools and youth-serving agencies, where we provide one-day shows (Touring) as well as recurring workshops (Residencies). Specifically, I am in a management and supervisory role where I assist the staff who create our contracts as well as those who recruit for and train the Teaching and Touring Artists that lead all our programs. So far, much of my time has been dedicated to internal development and training for our department so as to improve efficiency, balance workload, and expand our reach in Chicago and beyond.

Chiago

After dedicating much time, energy, and interest in training and coursework on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging themes, I have now started facilitating professionally in this realm. Whether presenting individually or co-facilitating with another, I bring experience, empathy, and accountability to the work. Please reach out if you are interested in collaborating on a project or as a thought partner in DEI spaces. I look forward to learning with you.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

As Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), my emphasis was on one graduate college at UIC. Here I worked with our Director in scheduling regular guest speakers and programs, coordinating a college-wide strategic thinking committee, and collaborating on initiatives led by student organizations. In addition, I was tasked with supporting students, staff, and faculty in any equity-related issues they experienced in the college. After several months, my work shifted to the undergraduate campus where I supported the UIC dialogue program. My tasks were two-fold: (1) review and contribute to the current dialogue course, and (2) partake in creation of an upper level dialogue course.

As Director, I joined the Violence Intervention and Prevention Services (or "VIPS") team which focuses on ending community violence and addressing root causes. In my position, I was responsible for the management and support of staff who work with young people that have been impacted by this violence. This role included the oversight of programs, staff development and supervision, various administrative duties, hiring and recruitment, and capacity building of the overall team.

Evanston, Il

As a Research Analyst, I was focused on the qualitative data at our school: the stories and experiences of our students. ETHS already had an abundance of quantitative data from grades, assessments, and other metrics; numbers that assess and evaluate the students and institution. What was absent are the student voices to confirm, and at times contradict, the numbers. With focus groups and interviewing, I tried to bring student voice into spaces and conversations where it was not always considered or present.

Evanston, Il

As Community Schools Manager (CSM), my role was to engage school staff, parents and families, as well as community leaders, to transform the school to become a source of resources for all members of the community. At its core, this position was about relationship-building, cultivating shared leadership and ownership of the community school. I also facilitated a collaborative needs assessment, supported implementation of programs and services around community-identified needs, created procedures for information and resource-sharing, and managed communications regarding the community school. I was based at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School ("King Arts") as a member of Youth & Opportunity United.

Westchester County

As a community educator, and part of the Domestic Violence Education and Prevention (DVEP) team, I provided countless presentations on Healthy Relationships, consent, and more to over 55 schools and organizations throughout Westchester County. The programming is highly interactive, eliciting thoughtful contributions, and designed to engage youth participants as they navigate friendships, relationships, and identity. So, on a day to day basis, I would go into middle schools and high schools, talking to and interacting with a mixture of students, and helping to interrupt instances of teen dating violence through preventative education.

Vincentian Institute For Social Action

As part of the Vincentian Institute for Social Action (or VISA), I helped to maintain our current community partnerships. I supported students who were out in the community doing service every week, as well as communicating with university partnerships to ensure an ongoing, mutualistic relationship between each partner and the university. The majority of my position was devoted to the Advantage Academy, a unique program at St. John's where individuals who were formerly homeless, from the foster care system, or have experienced extreme poverty can receive an Associate's Degree in Business Administration at no personal cost. I was the go-to person for the Academy, functioning in several capacities as the program recruiter, adviser, advocate and manager to support students in earning and completing their degree, as well as planning their next steps after SJU.

Mississippi, Alabama, And Georgia

Funded by the SPLC, I was part of a team interviewing the Safe Schools Coalitions of Mississippi (MSSC), Alabama (ASSC) and Georgia (GSSC), which each aim to make K-12 schools a more safe and inclusive environment for children who identify as LGBTQ or similarly. The project gauged the similarities and differences in doing this work, as well as shedding light on how LGBTQ organizing and education vary from the rhetoric displayed on a national level. *This is an ongoing project, report, and resource.

Oxford, Ms

As an intern with the Center for Population Studies, I conducted meetings and focus groups in Okolona, MS and Mound Bayou, MS to engage youth in each respective community.

Ann Arbor, Mi

-Facilitated Ally Trainings, Workshops, and Speaker's Bureau Trainings for university students-Created new workshop and training materials-Participated in full-scale evaluation and re-organization of Spectrum structure

Ann Arbor, Mi

Worked as a Camp Counselor during summer for Ann Arbor elementary and middle school children. The camp included many field trips, pool visits, and numerous activities.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Assisted Childcare Staff in numerous classrooms, providing support and play to children 0-5 years

Master Of Social Work (Msw), Community Organization And Advocacy

Activities and Societies: Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC), Color of Change Summit CommitteeMSW focus on macro work.

Bachelor'S Degree, Afro-American Studies And Sociology

Activities and Societies: Alternative Spring Break (ASB), the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), Relay for Life, Intergroup Dialogue.