Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Leifman

Hi Becky, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I always loved performing as I was growing up. That love took me to college for acting and while there, I learned about a group of actors with intellectual and developmental disabilities that practiced theater skills every night as they prepared for their bi-annual show. I fell in love with the program, with the people, and with the work – and decided that I’d much rather make that a career than performing. When I moved to NYC, no program like that existed so my friends and I started our own! Fast forward: CO/LAB Theater Group is in its 13th season, reaching over 300 actors with developmental disabilities per year. I left CO/LAB as its Executive Director in Februrary of 2024 and am now looking for a new role in philanthropy – hopefully staying as close to the intersection of arts and disability as possible.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

There have been all kinds of struggles along the way. Without naming specifics, I think one of the hardest things is genuine disagreements with co-workers. I respect all my colleagues deeply but it’s inevitable that differing views will come into play and a specific approach to move forward might not be agreed upon. There have been times where I have had to concede and other times where I was able to choose what I thought was best. It’s not easy and with open and the key has been open and transparent conversation.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

As a former Executive Director of a nonprofit, I have had to ‘specialize’ in all kinds of topics – management, HR, finances, fundraising, arts education, disability, theater, Teaching Artistry – to stay well rounded and informed. I would hope that I am most known for supporting my colleagues and buildling genuine relationships. Though I could be in spreadsheet land all day, it’s all worth it knowing that someone somewhere is benefitting from the dollar that was reallocated, or the HR policy that was pre-emptively put in place. I focus on people – first and foremost.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?

Listening to the disabed advocates is of the utmost importance. COVID is not over. People have different relationships to it now, but it’s not over. The best thing we can all do is continue to talk about what makes us feel most safe, and respect whoever is in the room.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: becky.beary12

Image Credits

Headshot by Liz Furze