Removing Barriers and Opening Doors: Finding Ways to Improve Accessibility and Inclusion

90-minute session

Location: Hilton Albany, Kelsey

Day/Time: Sunday, April 7 // 1 - 2:30 PM

About: Accessibility can mean many things, from physical accessibility to a building to language translation, transportation, site navigation and wayfinding, and more. This panel will discuss ways that each organization has addressed complex issues of accessibility to their historic buildings while making their programs and exhibits more inclusive of their communities. We'll discuss the challenges of reaching new audiences and breaking down the barriers to visitorship. From funding to finding the right consultants, through implementation, participants will receive practical advice to work toward a more open and welcoming museum no matter what the size of the organization.

Presenters:

Janna Rudler, Grants and Technical Services Manager, Preservation League of NYS

Janna is the Grants and Technical Services Manager at the Preservation League of New York State. The Preservation League is the statewide non-profit dedicated to historic preservation advocacy, education, and grants since 1974. Janna advises individuals, communities, non-profits, and municipalities in achieving their preservation goals, offering technical support and referrals to all who seek assistance in their preservation efforts, and oversees the League’s grant programs. Her career has taken her from archaeological digs across New York State and Mexico to directing an archaeology lab to managing a historic house museum. Janna holds a BA in Anthropology from Binghamton University and a Master of Arts in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.

Jennifer Carlquist, Executive Director and Curator, Boscobel House and Gardens

Jennifer Carlquist is a 30-year museum professional preserving and reinterpreting American interiors, their contents, and contexts, as powerful catalysts for community engagement. At Boscobel House and Gardens, a 112-acre site on the Hudson River with an historic house museum, she leads efforts to design, advocate for, and fund projects that expand accessibility in every sense: more inclusive research and interpretation, diversified programming and audience outreach, and major improvements to ADA-related facilities and regional infrastructure.

Giulietta Fiore, Deputy Director, Historic House Trust of NYC

As Deputy Director of the Historic House Trust of New York City, Giulietta helps preserve 23 City-owned historic sites, and supports 21 museum partners. She has an in-depth understanding of the unique needs of NYC’s house museums as well as a nuanced view of the role of layered stakeholders in maintaining cultural heritage. Giulietta holds a degree in Archaeology from McGill University, and has experience working in various sectors related to history including cultural resource management, historic preservation, and museum administration.

John McKenna, Interim Director, Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History

John A. McKenna is a public affairs specialist in the mass media and nonprofit space. He is founder of KennaScope, a consulting company operating at the intersection of content creation and social impact. He serves as interim executive director for the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Country Advisor - USA for The Non-Violence Project, a global peace-building initiative. As Executive Director of Operation Respect, he led innovative efforts to promote peace building and conflict-resolution through creative and positive forms of expression, including music. He serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lennon Real Love Project, the Global Peace Committee of the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma and Northwell Health’s Gun Violence Prevention Collaborative Committee. A graduate of UCLA with a degree in political science/international relations, he was a member of the Political Science Honor Society and reported on current affairs for the Daily Bruin.

César Zapata, Exhibit Designer, Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History

César is an exhibit designer and educator. He has developed projects for art and history museums, memorials, and cultural centers in the United States and abroad since 1995. Mr. Zapata has also been a design educator at schools and museums in New York City, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. He teaches exhibit design at the Harvard Extension School of Museum Studies. César holds a MPA in nonprofit management from NYU.