Our Mission
The Chicago Inclusion Project exists to facilitate inclusive experiences and hiring practices throughout Chicago theatre.
Staff
Emjoy Gavino (Founder, Executive Director, Casting Associate)
She / Her / Hers
Emjoy has performed with A Red Orchid Theatre, The Gift Theatre Company, Court Theatre, Second City, Northlight Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens, Broadway Playhouse, Lookingglass, Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, Studio Theatre, ACT, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, The Guthrie Theatre, Penobscot Theatre Company, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage and The Getty Villa. Emjoy is a 3Arts Make A Wave grantee, recipient of the 3Arts Lipkin Award and a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf.
Elana Elyce (Business Manager)
She / Her / Hers
Elana is from Detroit, MI and has been living, performing, writing, coaching and directing in and around Chicago since 2007.
www.elanaelyce.net
Abhi Shrestha (Community Organizer)
They / Them / Theirs
Abhi is a Chicago based theatre educator and dramaturg originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. They are the Director of Education and Engagement at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Resident Dramaturg and Community Organizer for the Chicago Inclusion Project, and a proud board member of the Illinois Caucus of Adolescent Health. Abhi has spent 7+ years cultivating a theatrical and administrative practice that champions youth agency and empowerment. Abhi believes deeply in the liberatory power of arts education and views theatre as a civic engagement modality.
Stephanie Díaz (Casting Associate / Grant Writer)
She / Her / Hers
Stephanie Diaz is an award-winning actor, puppetry artist and writer based in Chicago. As a puppeteer, she specializes in Bunraku-style tabletop and shadow puppetry, and has designed for various Chicago theatre and dance companies in addition to her own critically-acclaimed signature piece, Mariposa Nocturna: A Puppet Triptych, which opened the inaugural Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival and enjoyed several sold-out runs in Chicago. Her work as an actor in English and Spanish spans theatre, TV and voiceover. She has worked regionally in theatre throughout the country, most recently as Poncia in ¡BERNARDA! (Teatro Vista/Steppenwolf) and can currently be seen as Catalina Torres on Chicago PD (NBC). She is currently at work writing an upcoming season of the scripted horror podcast Undertow (Dagaz Media and Realm.fm). The recipient of numerous grants and residencies, she was most recently a 2023 Fellow at Santa Fe Art Institute. She is a 3Arts Awardee, a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, and a proud Guatemalan-American.
Arti Ishak (Facilitator)
They / Them / Theirs
Arti Ishak is an actor, director and writer. Acting credits include The Best Decision You Ever Made, Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno (The Second City); KISS (Haven); Venus in Fur (Circle); Witch, Buried Child (Writers); Men on Boats (American Theater Company). TV: Southside (HBO); Dark Matter (Apple TV); Chicago Med (NBC). Directing credits include short films Shukran Bas (Means of Productions), ba la (HF Productions), HALF (ZAXIE); Theatre: Same Sects (Haven Chicago), Hatefuck (First Floor Theatre). Arti is a facilitator with The Chicago Inclusion Project, an instructor at Black Box Acting and adjunct at The Theatre School at DePaul. They are represented by Paonessa Talent Agency. www.artiishak.com
Adelina Feldman-Schultz (Facilitator / Casting Associate)
She / Her / Hers
Adelina Feldman-Schultz is an Argentine-American casting director, actor, and consultant lucky to live and work in Chicago. She is a proud member of The Chicago Inclusion Project, serving as both Co-Program Manager of the Active Anti-Racism training workshop and as a Casting Assistant. As one of the co-founders of the annual Chicago Inclusion Auditions (formerly Chicago Theatre Access Auditions,) Adelina has helped introduce dozens of Theatres to hundreds of up-and-coming Chicago actors. Casting credits include Teatro Vista (Bernarda, Enough to Let the Light In, Somewhere Over the Border,) UrbanTheater Company (Chicago Lore(s), Brujaja!, Back in the Day,) Adventure Stage Chicago (La Ofrenda, Roots in the Alley,) CLATA (Inicios Series), First Floor Theatre (In His Hands, Pro-Am, Hatefuck, Botticelli in the Fire,) Firebrand Theatre and several web series, short films, and commercials. 2018 Nominee, 2019 Winner, ALTA Award: Casting Direction. Proud Jew for a Free Palestine.
Greg Geffrard (Facilitator)
He / Him / His
Greg is an educator, scholar, activist, actor, and facilitator who is dedicated to the empowerment of historically dehumanized populations and the creation of opportunities for radical joy. He has dedicated his time and energy to cultivating spaces of acceptable risk for artists of all ages and levels of experience. In addition to having a background in Sexual Assault Prevention, he is an Intimacy Director and is Guiding Faculty with Theatrical Intimacy Education. He enjoys reading/performing poetry and all things boxing. and food!
Jessica Vann (Facilitator)
She / Her / Hers
Jess is a multi-careered woman who is an actor, entrepreneur, singer and podcast host of Tomfoolery and Shenanigans w/ Jess Vann. Hailing from Lansing, MI. She received a B.S. in Theatre and interpretation from Central Michigan University and an M.A. in Training and Development from Roosevelt University. She balances her time running her business Creative Spaces which provides arts based leadership and professional development workshops/keynotes for emerging veteran leaders in various work sectors. Being an artist, and working in youth development and social impact. It would be safe to say she wears many hats and continues to find self discovery and joy in all of them. Learn more about Jess Vann and jessvanncreates.com
*staff portraits photographed by Joe Mazza at Brave Lux Photography (exceptions: headshots of Adelina & Greg)
Board of Directors
Behzad Dabu
Lavina Jadhwani
Anish Jethmalani
Jeff Trainor
Founding Collective
Danny Bernardo
Ben Chang
Behzad Dabu
Stephanie Diaz
Elana Elyce
Emjoy Gavino
Todd Garcia
Delia Kropp
Yunuen Pardo
Artistic Advisors
Sandra Marquez
Michael Patrick Thornton
Partners
We are proud to have partnered with
The League of Chicago Theatres, The Chicago Cultural Alliance and Brave Lux Photography.
