Schedule
Click the day of the week to view the agenda and session descriptions for that day.
All Friday and Saturday sessions will take place in the Hotel Indigo on the third and fourth floors. See schedule below for each session room location.
Thu
Fri
Sat
Thursday, January 25, 2024
2:00 pm
Pre-Convening Cultural Walking Tours
Various LA Neighborhoods
Join your fellow Convening attendees for a cultural walking tour and experience the rich tapestry of neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles—one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world.
6:00 pm
Newcomers Reception
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
Are you a first-time attendee to the Levitt National Convening? Come to this reception in The Metropolitan on Hotel Indigo’s third floor welcoming newcomers to help break the ice, meet other first-timers and the Levitt Foundation team, plan for navigating the Convening schedule, and begin building relationships with your Levitt peers.
6:30 pm
Official Convening Kickoff | AMP + VIBE Reception
18 Social | Hotel Indigo
Join your Levitt AMP and Levitt VIBE peers at 18 Social on the top floor of Hotel Indigo, where you’ll enjoy libations, light appetizers, and stunning views of LA’s iconic skyline while making new connections with your Levitt peers from across the country and reconnecting with old friends. Following this reception, head downstairs to The Metropolitan, located on the hotel’s third floor, for the network-wide Welcome Reception featuring a delicious dinner, handcrafted cocktails, and the spirited beats of DJ Ari-4Rari!
Official Convening Kickoff | FOL Reception
Globe | Hotel Indigo
Join your Friends of Levitt peers in The Globe on the fourth floor of Hotel Indigo, where you’ll enjoy libations, light appetizers, and an outdoor terrace while making new connections with your Levitt peers from across the country and reconnecting with old friends. Following this reception, head downstairs to The Metropolitan, located on the hotel’s third floor, for the network-wide Welcome Reception featuring a delicious dinner, handcrafted cocktails, and the spirited beats of DJ Ari-4Rari!
7:30 pm
Convening Welcome Reception
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
Following your affinity group gatherings, join us in The Metropolitan on Hotel Indigo’s third floor, for a network-wide reception bringing all Convening attendees together. Find yourself immersed in the glamour of old Hollywood while you enjoy a dinner of delicious cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and the spirited beats of DJ Ari-4Rari!
Friday, January 26, 2024
8:00 am
Sound Bath (Optional)
Hollander | Hotel Indigo
Join Luna for a relaxing sonic meditation experience incorporating sound bowls for an easeful and empowering sound bath. Sound healing is a form of alchemy or transformation that calms brain waves in safe and gentle ways, supporting peace, relaxation, and connection to pause and take in the beauty of sound. Taking place before breakfast and during lunch each day.
8:30 am
Breakfast
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
9:30 am
9:45 am
Reimagining Our Collective Future
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
In this era of reimagination, free Levitt concerts have sparked new possibilities for communities across the country, fueling a movement for free live music in public spaces as essential to community life. Building upon arts access, free concerts have the potential to foster social cohesion, advance shared priorities, and contribute to ecosystem-level change. With the first phase of the Levitt Foundation’s spend down underway, inspired by the transformational impact of Levitt programs in communities, Sharon will share how the Foundation is expanding programs and resources and strengthening the field of creative placemaking through centering joy and belonging for people of all ages and backgrounds for a more equitable, healthy, and thriving future for all.
10:30 am
BREAK
Hotel Indigo
11:00 am
Levitt Network Panels
Levitt Panel | Bridging Diversity: The Art of Cross-Cultural Collaboration in Cultural Programming
Globe | Hotel Indigo
As our society becomes increasingly diverse, cultural programming emerges as a powerful tool for promoting understanding, appreciation, and celebration of our differences. This engaging panel discussion will delve into the dynamic realm of developing cross-cultural relationships to produce authentic cultural programming and foster unity and inclusion within your community.
Maddy Olsen
Angela Peña
Dana Sonnenberg
Letatia Teykl
Kimberly James
Levitt Panel | Structuring Sponsorships for Success and Impact
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Securing sponsorships can be challenging, particularly for those new to fundraising for a free outdoor concert series. During this session, hear panelists’ stories, lessons learned, and actionable strategies to pitch sponsorships. Their range of experiences will help you craft win-win sponsor packages and spark creative ways to structure successful cash and in-kind sponsorships.
Sadie Ash
Nancy Halverson
Talicia Richardson
Victoria Bridenstine
Levitt Panel | Unexpected Partnerships To Advance Shared Priorities
Belasco | Hotel Indigo
Forming partnerships with local groups can help deepen community engagement, advance shared priorities, and accelerate ecosystem-level change. Hear how three Levitt AMP communities are strengthening the social and economic fabrics of their communities through cross-sector partnerships, from building trust with refugee youth to sparking downtown revitalization to amplifying resources and personal stories of recovery to help end addiction.
Valerie Horn
Doe Kpaw So Paw
Meg Rego
Michelle Truett
Vanessa Silberman
12:00 pm
LUNCH
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
12:30 pm
Sound Bath (Optional)
Hollander | Hotel Indigo
Join Luna for a relaxing sonic meditation experience incorporating sound bowls for an easeful and empowering sound bath. Sound healing is a form of alchemy or transformation that calms brain waves in safe and gentle ways, supporting peace, relaxation, and connection to pause and take in the beauty of sound. Taking place before breakfast and during lunch each day.
1:00 pm
BREAK
Hotel Indigo
1:30 pm
Affinity Peer Group Breakouts
Hotel Indigo
Join your Levitt affinity group to further explore key topics and share insights and experiences. Click your affinity group for session descriptions and room locations.
3:00 pm
BREAK
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
3:30 pm
Plenary | Putting the “Be” in Belonging
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Belonging is a fundamental human need. But what does it mean to belong? This plenary and fireside chat will explore the art and science of building belonging in public spaces. We will discuss the ways communities across the country are harnessing the power of connection and expanding understanding of who belongs. We will also consider what belonging and the arts offer to each other, and embrace the role that each of us can play in cultivating a culture of belonging in the places we call home.
4:30 pm
Performance + Conversation | Kyshona
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Kyshona is an artist ignited by untold stories, and by the capacity of those stories to thread connection in every community. With her background as a licensed music therapist, she brings the curiosity of a writer, the resolve of an activist, and the voice of a singer. Kyshona is unrelenting in her pursuit for the healing power of song. She blends roots, rock, R&B, and folk with lyrical prowess and influence.
5:00 pm
Closing
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
6:30 pm
Group Dine-Arounds
Various Locations
Join your Levitt peers for a Los Angeles culinary experience. Groups of 10-20 will dine at each restaurant with cuisines reflecting the global diversity of LA—from Mexican, Korean, and Peruvian to Chinese, Italian, and standard American fare—among other delicious options.
Saturday, January 27, 2024
7:30 am
Sound Bath (Optional)
Hollander | Hotel Indigo
Join Luna for a relaxing sonic meditation experience incorporating sound bowls for an easeful and empowering sound bath. Sound healing is a form of alchemy or transformation that calms brain waves in safe and gentle ways, supporting peace, relaxation, and connection to pause and take in the beauty of sound. Taking place before breakfast and during lunch each day.
8:00 am
Breakfast
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
9:00 am
Collective Musicmaking
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Get ready to be energized in joyful harmony with your Levitt peers in this opening activity led by Kira Willey of Choir & Company.
9:30 am
Plenary | Unleashing Your Civic Superpower through Creative Placemaking
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Community thrives when collective strength, comprised of individual voices, addresses issues to elevate the common good. While there are many crises in our national politics and culture today, the solutions ultimately will come from people rooted in place and woven together in relationship. In this powerful keynote, Liu will share insights and strategies from his acclaimed work on the power of participation to positively change civic culture from the ground up, while also speaking to the arts in the public sphere as a dynamic vehicle for identifying and designing solutions.
10:30 am
Break
Hotel Indigo
11:00 am
Levitt Network Panels
Levitt Panel | Harmonic Healing: How Levitt AMP Communities Rebuild in the Wake of Natural Disasters
Belasco | Hotel Indigo
Learn about the power of music as a catalyst for community healing, resource connection, and the revival of local spirit in the wake of natural disasters. Three Levitt AMP communities will share stories of community engagement and the innovative ways their music series has served as a bridge to resources during challenging times.
Lydia Chatmon
Valerie Horn
Becky Lind
Amber Withers, Ph.D
Levitt Panel | Inventive Individual Donor Programs to Deepen Engagement (And Support Your Bottom Line!)
Globe | Hotel Indigo
Want to engage individual donors, deepening their connection to your mission while inspiring donations? Learn about two impactful donor fundraising programs that are increasing support while creating a sense of community, from a membership program that has multiple donor levels and engagement opportunities to a ticketed concert series with surprise elements that extends Levitt’s presence and builds community year-round.
Levitt Panel | Strategic Collaboration: How Partnerships Amplify Outreach
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Are you seeking to foster deeper social connections at Levitt concerts among the various communities that comprise your local population? Going beyond traditional marketing strategies is key! Learn effective approaches to developing community-centered partnerships to help spread the word, activate the lawn, and curate culturally relevant programming.
Allegra Padilla
Allie Thut
Christi Walden
Victoria Bridenstine
12:00 pm
Lunch
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
12:30 pm
Sound Bath (Optional)
Hollander | Hotel Indigo
Join Luna for a relaxing sonic meditation experience incorporating sound bowls for an easeful and empowering sound bath. Sound healing is a form of alchemy or transformation that calms brain waves in safe and gentle ways, supporting peace, relaxation, and connection to pause and take in the beauty of sound. Taking place before breakfast and during lunch each day.
1:00 pm
BREAK
Hotel Indigo
1:30 pm
Affinity Peer Group Breakouts
Hotel Indigo
Join your Levitt affinity group to further explore key topics and share insights and experiences. Click your affinity group for session descriptions and room locations.
3:00 pm
Break
Metropolitan | Hotel Indigo
3:30 pm
Artist Presentation | Larry & Joe
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
Larry & Joe are versatile multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters on a mission to show that music has no borders. As a duo they perform a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, and upright bass, inspiring joy and unity. The program they offer, en ingles y español, features a distinct blend of their musical inheritances and traditions.
4:00 pm
Closing
Orpheum | Hotel Indigo
6:00 pm
Celebration Dinner
Conga Room