Beyond Covid: A Shift Experience! 

A 3-day Shift Community Mitigation Workshop in the DMV focusing on emergency preparedness and mitigation through a creative lens

February 9 - February 11, 2023 at the University of DC.

Emily Sollenberger (staff at the Maryland State Arts Council) and Carol Foster (staff at The International Association of Blacks in Dance), in collaboration with the Air Collaborative, National Coalition of Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER), and the Mellon Foundation, are excited to host a multi-day, hands-on Shift Workshop. This collaborative workshop will bring together the arts sector, emergency management, businesses, and the community to build a stronger, more resilient network around emergency preparedness. The final outcome is an actionable project to implement on increased emergency planning awareness. 

Day 1 - Thursday, February 9, 2023, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Day 2 - Friday, February 10, 2023, 10:00 a.m.  - 7:00 p.m.

Day 3 - Saturday, February 11, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The workshop will focus on emergency management and mitigation through the lens of creativity! Participants will work together to develop a project(s) that directly impacts the community's needs.  In 3 days, a business plan for the projects, steps to implementation, and ways to approach funders will take place.

Who should attend?

- Creative types: artists, musicians, sculptors, writers, dancers, museum administrators, librarians, parks and trails volunteers, craft food and beverage makers, and local restaurant owners.
- Innovators: business owners, accountants, landscape designers, marketing firms, product designers, game developers, videographers, and graphic designers.
- Preparedness folks: emergency responders, public safety administrators, medical professionals, and anyone else working for and of the community who are interested!

Stipends & Registration

$350 stipends will be offered to those interested in attending outside of their regular work and/or may need to cover unexpected expenses to attend this 3-day opportunity. These stipends are limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. You can indicate the need for this within the registration form. 

When you register, you are committing to the timeframes previously stated. The location is fully accessible, but to request and/or notify facilitators of specific needs, please include them in your registration form. 

Register Now

Questions? Reach out to Emily Sollenberger at [email protected].

For more information about what to expect, please click here.