Jessica Cherry's ReImagination Café

What happens when we pay close enough attention to the movements of everyday work to see the beauty—and perhaps even the dance—in what people do?

In this first installment of a two-part conversation with host Jessica Cherry, dancer, choreographer, and Forklift Danceworks founder Allison Orr shares the experiences that shaped her distinctive approach to community-based artmaking and her belief that we are all inherently creative. From an unexpected encounter with a window washer to collaborations with firefighters, sanitation workers, and electric utility workers, Allison reveals how curiosity, deep listening, and one-on-one relationship-building enable her and her community partners to co-create extraordinary performances that illuminate workers' movement expertise while bringing their stories to the foreground.

The episode also features Peter Bay, longtime music director and conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. While a symphony conductor may, on the surface, seem to have little in common with the essential workers at the center of many Forklift projects, in Solo Symphony, Allison brought the same curiosity to Peter's work, looking beyond the artistry audiences could already see to discover the person behind the baton. Peter reflects on a collaboration that wove together his life as a conductor and his personal story, the vulnerability he felt sharing so much of himself, and his surprise at the depth of the audience's response, which gave him a new appreciation for the impact of a conductor's work.

Allison's performances offer audiences a window into work they may rarely think about and foster greater appreciation for contributions too often taken for granted. And for those performing, being seen and celebrated can offer something equally powerful: an opportunity to recognize the value of their own work and contributions in a new way.

In Part 2, we continue the conversation as Allison expands her collaborative approach, bringing together broader groups of stakeholders for ambitious projects centered around place—and exploring how creative collaboration can deepen people's connection to the places they share while strengthening relationships across generations and between newer and longtime community members.

In a time of rising polarization, social fragmentation, and widespread disconnection, how can communities rebuild trust and strengthen civic life? In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Jessica Cherry continues her conversation with Bridget Marquis, Director of Reimagining the Civic Commons, exploring how public spaces across the country are being transformed in ways that bring people together in meaningful ways.

Through stories from Detroit and Memphis, the episode highlights how communities are turning vacant land, underused corridors, and even historically divisive spaces into welcoming places of connection and belonging.

The episode features three local leaders: Alexa Bush and Karlyta Williams in Detroit, and Carol Coletta in Memphis. Their stories show how thoughtful design, community engagement, and cultural storytelling can reshape both neighborhoods and perceptions.

Together, these stories offer a hopeful vision of what becomes possible when communities invest in shared spaces that invite connection across differences—and how those everyday moments can help rebuild trust and strengthen civic life.

In a time of rising polarization, social fragmentation, and widespread disconnection, how can communities rediscover a sense of shared purpose and possibility? Bridget Marquis of Reimagining the Civic Commons argues that the path forward lies in revitalizing our public spaces.

In this first installment of a two-part conversation with host Jessica Cherry, Bridget explores why the spaces we collectively own—our "civic commons"—matter now more than ever, and how communities across the country are transforming parks, libraries, waterfronts, trails, and other shared assets into vibrant hubs of connection, belonging, and civic life.

The episode also features two local leaders in Akron, Ohio—Dan Rice and Grace Hudson—who reflect on the central role that trust plays in Civic Commons work. Their experience highlights that progress depends not only on what gets built, but on how leaders listen, collaborate, and build relationships with the communities they serve.

Together, these voices paint a hopeful picture of what becomes possible when we invest not only in our civic infrastructure, but in the social fabric that allows communities to thrive—and how rebuilding trust at the local level can help communities reconnect and move forward together.

In Part 2, we continue the conversation, highlighting additional cities and leaders who are transforming public spaces in powerful ways.

In this episode of the ReImagination Café, Jessica welcomes Kate Mudge, Co-Director of the Care Farming Network, and Woody Woodroof, founder of Red Wiggler Care Farm—voices behind a growing movement that uses therapeutic farming to promote health, well-being, and belonging. From one Maryland farm to hundreds across the U.S., they share stories that show how care farms heal, provide purpose, and connect people.

You'll also hear from:

• Shawn Hayden (CEO, GAAMHA) on recovery programs that pair people in recovery with rescued farm animals.
• Lacey and Adam Ingrao (Bee Wise Farms) on mindfulness-infused beekeeping that supports veterans, invites honest dialogue, and builds community.
• Charley Schwartz (Red Wiggler) on creating sanctuary safe spaces where people feel heard, seen, and that they belong.

Don't miss this conversation about:

• What care farming is—and the mutual benefits for participants, staff, volunteers, and communities.
• Red Wiggler's model: meaningful employment for people with disabilities, and community food access.
• How the Care Farming Network helps farms connect, share resources, mentor, and support one another.
• Innovative, real-world models serving people with disabilities, veterans, people in recovery, and other under-supported communities.

• The power of dance to inspire social change.
• Building a global arts movement from the ground up.
• Reimagining what it means to lead with purpose and passion.

Battery Dance Company is a New York-based nonprofit that creates lasting social impact by fostering understanding and improving lives through the universal expression of dance.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Valerie (Val) Jensen, the Founder of the Prospector Theater, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater. Val sets out the wide array of roles that employees - called prospects - perform at both the Prospector Theater and Val's Gemstone Farm. She also describes how she and her team tap into prospects' strengths and passions - which they call "sparkle" - empowering them to shine. Val also discusses the Prospector Theater's educational initiatives, including their service learning programs, which are custom-designed programs for businesses, schools, and other groups that educate participants about people with disabilities and showcase the vast talent that exists within this population. Jessica also has conversations with four prospects - Ali Wood, Joe Gillotti, Sam Furniss, and Rachel Wise - who describe the impact of meaningful employment on their lives.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Rudhir Krishtel, founder of Krishtel. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Rudhir and his team ignite transformational change in our workplaces by opening the door to collective dialogues about issues that arise at the intersection of leadership, well-being, and diversity, equity and inclusion. A former practicing attorney who wore stress as a badge of honor, Rudhir shares the wake-up call that changed his perspective, the meaningful conversation that gave him permission to take a pause from his busy life, and how spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, inform his work. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly navigate difficult conversations, Rudhir shares several stories that illustrate how he creates the safe spaces that are the cornerstone of transformational work.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Gary Hirsch, Co-founder of On Your Feet, which uses storytelling and improvisation to help companies pursue their business objectives. Gary is also the creator of Botjoy, a global art movement designed to spread joy throughout the world using tiny robots painted on the back of dominos. Whether creating robots through his Botjoy initiative, or delivering innovative training programs through On Your Feet, Gary is passionate about bringing people together and creating experiences that are playful, interactive, and engaging, and that ultimately lead to better results. Gary shares the heartwarming personal story that was the catalyst for his drawing and ultimately his Botjoy initiative, and sets out how he uses the tenets of improv to design and facilitate training programs that teach valuable skills, while igniting joy.