Inclusive Employment in Arts & Culture: Building Partnerships for Hiring

Text reads: "Inclusive Employment in Arts & Culture: Building Partnerships for Hiring. Central West Community Center, 2102 W. Ogden Ave. Friday, March 24, 3:30-5:00pm CT." Logos: Cultural Access Collaborative and MOPD (Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities). Photographs: 1) Red brick exterior of Central West Community Center on a sunny fall day. 2) Colorful mural with zig zag edges and diverse individuals, including: someone with a prosthetic leg; someone with a guide dog; someone using a wheelchair; several people forming ASL letters with their hands; and more. 3) Interior showing an open door and a doorplate that reads Room A, MOPD Career Center and includes raised braille letters.

Join us for in person networking at the new MOPD Career Center!

Are you a hiring manager or supervisor at an arts or cultural institution looking to expand your team? Let’s build local connections with community agencies to help you source new talent and create career opportunities for people with disabilities!

The program will begin with remarks from MOPD’s Commissioner Rachel Arfa, followed by structured networking among cultural administrators and community agencies. Attendees will leave with new community connections and resources to help diversify their hiring initiatives.

 

Archived Event Files

Meet the MOPD Career Center Staff
Central West Community Center Mural Walkthrough

Archived Event Speakers

Rachel is smiling in front of the Chicago flag.

Rachel Arfa (she/her/hers) was appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot in July 2020.

Commissioner Arfa is the first deaf commissioner of MOPD, and the highest-ranking deaf person to serve in a City government leadership role.   Arfa comes to MOPD with years of experience as a disability and civil rights attorney.   She has held numerous civic and leadership roles, including advocating to make Chicago’s cultural spaces accessible to people with disabilities.

As MOPD Commissioner, Arfa leads the City of Chicago’s efforts to make Chicago a more accessible city.  MOPD provides services including in the areas of independent living services (information and referral, home-delivered meals, and Personal Assistant Services), employment and youth transition services, home modifications, assistive devices, accessible housing and architectural accessibility.  MOPD also creates policies on disability accessibility, accessible transportation, and emergency preparedness.

Arfa is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A. American Culture) and the University of Wisconsin School of Law (J.D.)