Donna Gary Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Program Development: Design, plan, and coordinate public programs, discussion series, and arts-based workshops in collaboration with community members, student organizations and UIC departments. Event Management: Handle logistics for events including scheduling, budgeting, and coordination with speakers and facilitators. MC events, moderate panels, and facilitate signature series including Disability Day of Mourning, Accessible Juneteenth and Crip Coffee Break.Community Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with students, staff, faculty, and community members to promote participation.Support Services: Provide experience based assistance and guidance on disability issues and cultural engagement.Marketing and Outreach: Edit captions, and create image descriptions for promotional materials among other strategies to increase program visibility and participation.Evaluation and Reporting: Monitor program effectiveness, gather feedback, and prepare reports for continuous improvement.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Advocacy Director - Arts Education and Maker Space Center at ARTEMPLE FoundationJoining Artemple Foundation as the Advocacy Director, I lead strategic initiatives for inclusive arts education and maker space programming, prioritizing neurodivergent and economically disadvantaged artists. In my first year:1. Policy Champion: - Drove successful advocacy efforts, influencing policy changes that supported the growth of inclusive arts education and maker space initiatives.2. Program Expansion Specialist: - Spearheaded the expansion and improvement of arts education and maker space programs, catering specifically to the diverse needs of neurodivergent and economically disadvantaged artists. Researched, copy edited and pitched proposals for programmatic and operational funding in alignment with the mission. 3. Community Engagement Expert: - Fostered robust relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, neurodivergent advocacy groups, community leaders, and NGOs, building a strong coalition.4. Research-Informed Advocate: - Integrated research findings into advocacy strategies, providing evidence-based recommendations for addressing the unique challenges faced by the target community.5. Professional Development Leader: - Implemented impactful professional development opportunities for staff, community members, and partners, enhancing knowledge and empowerment within the community.Joining Artemple means driving transformative change in arts education advocacy, fostering inclusivity and creativity for all. #ArtsAdvocate #InclusiveEducation #NeurodiversityChampion

Remote

Morten Group LLC, Administrative Associate 10/2021 to 08/2022• Facillitate timeline and communication on Equity Committee specific deliverables internal and external.• Schedule client partner facing and internal meetings in Google calendar, and Zoom link creation.• Conduct daily email correspondence, and update internal documents on the status of all client partners.Morten Group LLC, Technical Facilitator 04/2021 to current• Lead technical support via zoom for 2-4 hour trainings or workshops and submit post event report.• Access and host Zoom, Google Slides, and Spotify for event, create live polls and breakout rooms.• Address and troubleshoot Zoom or presentation concerns, and device issues with calm professionalism.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

+ Conduct contractor Payroll. +Maintain Designer, Run Crew and Actor Scouting, Hiring and Onboarding + Distribute Contracts, Create calendar for productions and Payment timeline

Chicago, Illinois, United States

+ Manage Free Street theater space and calendar upkeep, reservations, and office supplies.+ Create contracts, track receipts, conduct contractor payroll, maintain archiving and administrative CRMs.+ Attend all administrative meetings and troubleshoot production staff needs and timeline.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Research, email, call and video conduct interviews with community members, and cultural assets.• Create streamline copy, scripts, and external messaging for the project in line with grant guidelines. • Utilize Basecamp, and Google Suite to communicate with internal team and code data.

Chicago

• Manage the online platform at auction houses as liaison between online bidders and live auctioneers.• Conduct alphanumerical high speed data entry and real time upselling, bidding and acquisition of lots. • Exude professionalism and superb customer service under pressure at live in and out of state auctions.This role included attending and clerking auctions in person out of state.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Document / track order data live in Google Sheets, and complete last minute orders from order to door.• Create professional consistent replies to daily order emails, Mercato reviews and customer phone calls.• Support front of house as opener and closer keyholder, grocery picker, and cashier as needed.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Update office calendar, sort mail, conduct monthly inventory, answer phone calls and return voicemails.• Respond to and resolve daily internal/external IT support tickets and customer service concerns.• Manage, document and file confidential, PHI and PII documents, and manage PERC Compliance.• Conduct, process, bill and send LiveScan / Ink Card Fingerprints for ISP and FBI background checks.

Chicago

• Study, document, organize and buy according to location and current fashion trends or styles.• Greet, guide and style customers. Sort, tag and organize warehouse / vintage clothing daily.• Upkeep store with relevant mannequin dressing, accessory styling and cleaning practices.

Greater New York City Area

• Propose, budget and execute over 40 original S.M.A.R.T. all hall programs for residents. • Provide administrative and community development support to hall staff and 900 residents. • Assist in training Office Assistants and Resident Assistants in Resource Center operations.• Supervise daily package arrival, mail distribution, monthly key audits, and authorize guest passes.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

The Victory Fund and Institute pairs interns who identify as LGBTQ with Representatives in the Senate and House. My placement was in a Democratic office in the House of Representatives.• Competitively selected from a pool of over 1,000 applicants for 1 of 12 internship positions.• Engaged weekly fundraising, networking, and development training at think tanks and corporations.• Attended 25 briefings and wrote memorandums daily. Defended 6 co-sponsor recommendations in- person. Completed 2 House Research library courses. • Authored 2 reports for the legislative director on federal legislation and national surveys impacting, disabled, LGBTQ, and/or homeless individuals.

New York City

• Facilitate knowledge of NWS mission, community guidelines and gender equity to volunteers.• Promoted grassroots programming and membership through customer service support on site.• Support host needs and vision for events via technical support, EventBrite, set up, and break down.

Greater New York City Area

Deliver high impact and energetic student workshops in middle and high schools.

Greater New York City Area

• Invigorate public programs with new ideas, strategic initiatives and logistical support. • Assist in expanding BCM’s audience through research, and surveys. • Prepare Maker Space and Children in Syria exhibition spaces.• Facilitate vendor relationship and performance contracts for One Crown Heights Fest.

Greater New York City Area

• Prepared tables, check in and maintained event needs.• Paid attention to detail, memorized event schedules and names of guests.• Listened and resolved problems while maintaining professionalism of event.

Greater New York City Area

• Developed customer service and communication skills.• Acquired cashier experience and tech product knowledge.• Responded professionally to client rebuttals.

Greater Chicago Area

• Managed and effectively organized funds .• Eloquently and efficiently educated a constantly varying public.• Trained entry level employees on mindset and persistence.

Downtown Chicago

Answer phones, send emails and communicate with clientsDesign engaging and creative advertisementsDeveloped strong computer, interpersonal, organizational and multitasking skills

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Poetics Of Embodiment: A Study Of The Ways Marginalized Folks Reimagine Their Value, Summa Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Disability Studies Minor, Disability Student Union, Slam! Poetry Club, Resource Center Assistant (RA).

High School Diploma