Highlights from the 2025 Levitt National Convening

With the 2025 Levitt concert season about to be in full swing across the country, it’s hard to believe that just over one month ago nearly 200 Levitt changemaker grantees—representing towns and cities of all sizes from across the country—gathered together in Downtown Los Angeles for the 2025 Levitt National Convening. This three-day event brimmed with engaging workshops, captivating keynote speakers, memorable social gatherings, and spectacular live performances—all designed to inspire innovative thinking, foster meaningful dialogue and connections, and deepen our shared commitment to free, live music as a catalyst for thriving communities across America.

Held at the Omni Los Angeles from March 27-29, the Convening’s interactive sessions, animated discussions, and immersive experiences foregrounded the power of collaboration and learning in community. Attendees exchanged practical insights, explored new approaches, and gained valuable perspectives on creative placemaking and the dynamic impact of building community through music.

Highlights included a screening of the Levitt Family Legacy short film, celebrating the extraordinary lives of Mortimer, Mimi, Liz and Peter; a fireside chat on the Foundation’s evolution with President & CEO Sharon Yazowski and Board Co-Chair Kathy Eberly Ovitt; a plenary and book signing by nonprofit thought leader Beth Kanter; rapid-round, Inspire: Ideas for Impact presentations by Levitt network grantees; facilitated workshops and breakout sessions led by field experts and grantees on topics including volunteer engagement, fundraising, public safety & security, digital marketing, and more; dazzling performances by rock, folk, and traditional Mayan Kaqchikel artist Sara Curruchich and the duo of Philadelphia-based rapper Küf Knotz & harpist/vocalist Christine Elise; and an inspiring closing plenary by acclaimed librettist and creative strategist Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Attendees also enjoyed social events to deepen their connections to their Levitt network peers—including affinity receptions for Levitt venue and Levitt AMP, VIBE, and BLOC communities—as well as opportunities to experience the cultural richness of Los Angeles. These activities included a pre-Convening museum visit to their choice of area arts destinations, as well as dine-around experiences showcasing the city’s renowned culinary diversity, including pan-Latin, soul food, and cuisines from across Asia and beyond. The Convening came to a close with Saturday evening’s Celebration Dinner—where all dined and danced the night away to the beats of Levitt’s own DJ Ari-4Ari, surrounded by iconic city views from the 5th floor of The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Explore the slideshow below to experience the energy and inspiration of the 2025 Levitt National Convening!

Pre-Convening activities on Thursday afternoon gave attendees the opportunity to experience Los Angeles cultural sites, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Affinity group receptions Thursday evening brought grantees from Levitt communities around the country together to meet, mingle, and foster connections.
After the premiere screening of the Levitt Family Legacy Film, Sharon Yazowski, Levitt Foundation President & CEO, opened the official program of the Convening with a presentation illustrating the impact of Levitt in communities around the country.
Levitt Foundation Board Co-Chair Kathy Eberly Ovitt joined Sharon onstage for a fireside chat about the Foundation’s evolution, while engaging all with several charming stories about her years working with Mortimer Levitt.
After her well-received presentation on how nonprofit professionals can (and should!) take care to ensure a work-life balance, Beth Kanter signed copies of her book, The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit.
Breakout sessions and workshops throughout Friday and Saturday of the Convening shared insights, best practices, and key takeaways from field experts and Levitt network grantees alike, including Creative Placemaking in Action with Sadie Ash of Levitt AMP Colusa and Eric Linares of Levitt AMP Waco, moderated by Vanessa Silberman, Levitt Foundation Executive Vice President.
Inspire: Ideas for Impact featured Levitt network speakers sharing five-minute presentations highlighting strategies that have had a positive impact on their music series and communities, with Angela Peña sharing the success of Levitt Pavilion Arlington's youth spotlight program.
The Convening included both mainstage presentations as well as workshops facilitated by field experts on topics of essential importance to the Levitt network and presenting inclusive and welcoming concert series, including Elizabeth Ralston who shared her expertise in creating accessible events.
Sara Curruchich, the first Indigenous Guatemalan singer-songwriter to sing in Kaqchikel (her mother tongue) as well as Spanish for an international audience, creates songs that inspire hope with a sense of soaring drama that transcends language and culture. Her energetic melodies enraptured the Convening audience on Friday afternoon.
The music of songwriter, producer, and MC Küf Knotz and classically trained instrumentalist Christine Elise Gallagher combines Küf’s hip-hop poetry, infused with soul, Lo-Fi and ‘90s era vibes, with Christine’s classical skills in harp, piano, and vocals. They opened the Convening on Saturday morning and brought attendees to their feet!
Sessions were designed to give grantees the space to be active participants in sharing their knowledge, experience, and insights in their work to build community through music.
The Levitt AMP, VIBE, and BLOC town hall provided another lively forum for grantees to exchange ideas, best practices, and opportunities gleaned in producing their music series, moderated by Victoria Bridenstine, Levitt Foundation Vice President of Programs, and Amber Withers-Bohrod, Ph.D., Levitt Foundation Program Officer.
Renowned cultural strategist and award-winning librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph gave a stirring closing plenary on Saturday afternoon, centered around his idea of structural allyship.
(L-R) Levitt Foundation Board Members Larry Chaifetz, Kathy Eberly Ovitt (Board Co-Chair), Sharon Yazowski (President & CEO), Helen Johnson, Pasy Wang (Board Treasurer), and John McNamara.
Attendees closed out the 2025 Levitt National Convening with a joyous Celebration Dinner on the 5th floor of The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion—which has hosted more than 20 Academy Awards ceremonies and is home to the Los Angeles Opera and Center Dance Arts.
Always thrilled to take the dance floor, grantees and Foundation staff show off their moves while enjoying the energetic beats of Levitt’s own DJ Ari-4Rari.
The Levitt Foundation staff pose for one last group photo before the night wraps and the Convening comes to an end.