Jennifer E. Boyd

One of the many reasons why I love working at Lyric Opera of Chicago! Our values center on bringing communities together, uplifting and celebrating ALL! 💕

On March 25, Lyric Opera of Chicago celebrated Holi, a significant Hindu festival celebrated as The Fesitval of Colors, Love, and Spring. This day marks the arrival of spring in India and other South Asian countries. The observance signifies a time of rebirth, rejuvenation, and embracing the positive while letting go of the negative energy. To honor and celebrate Holi, Lyric Opera of Chicago staff participated in a "color toss" and covered our foyer in beautiful vibrant colors. I had so much fun! It was truly an exhilarating experience. Now I'm ready to lean into a fresh new season! Artist: Barrett Keithly Instagram: @bkeezy #Holi #celebration #colortossing #spring #LifeatLyric #belongingmatters

Lyric Opera of Chicago wrapped up Black History Month with a curated series entitled "In Our Words: The Power of Storytelling panel discussion centered on the theme "African Americans and the Arts." Our dynamic moderator Terri A Johnson, Lryic Opera's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity. and Accessibility (IDEA) consultant, led the insightful conversation with elegance and grace. The inspirational, thought-provoking and lively panel discussion explored the importance of arts and culture as both creative expression and tools for activism for African Americans as well as the intersection of civic responsibilities and social impact. Our esteemed panelists infused their lived experiences and brought a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. Derrick Johnson serves as President and CEO of the NAACP, a title he has held since October of 2017. Mr. Johnson formerly served as vice chairman of the NAACP’s National Board of Directors, as well as state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. As the Biden Administration took office in 2021, Mr. Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position focused squarely on advancing our nation's longstanding issue of racial justice, helping to establish an interagency effort to eliminate systemic racial barriers and ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity, optimizing the well-being of all in public policies. Karen Freeman-Wilson began serving as President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League in January 2020. A graduate from Harvard University’s School of Law, she brings a passion for equity and social justice to the organization, which works to advance economic, educational and social progress for African Americans through direct service and advocacy. Previously, Ms. Freeman-Wilson was appointed Indiana Attorney General and after leaving office, she went on to become CEO of the non-profit National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Ms. Freeman-Wilson was elected as the 20th Mayor of Gary, Indiana from 2012 - 2019. Ms. Freeman-Wilson joined Lyric’s Board of Directors in 2021. Terri A Johnson is an organizational strategist and solopreneur with over 25 years of experience centering issues of equity and inclusion. Ms. Johnson is the founder of C-Change in Action, a social enterprise working with organizations to change their cultures, improve their communication, and strengthen connections to engage and transform communities. As we bring Black History Month to a close, let us continue to honor and celebrate the rich history and contributions made by African Americans within the arts community and beyond. Let's embrace, engage, and uplift Black voices as we take action to create a more just and equitable world. #blackhistorymonth #lifeatlyric #employeeexperience #belongingmatters #socialimpact #civicresponsibility

And that's a wrap! 🎬🎥 I had the honor and privilege of spending the last 4-days hanging out with super talented and cool Lyric Opera of Chicago colleagues at the national Opera America Conference in Pittsburgh! I celebrate our future with these emerging leaders in the forefront of the Opera industry. At Lyric, we invest in our People and support them through their career journey so that they can manifest their fullest potential. OPERA America’s annual conference is the largest assembly of opera administrators, artists, trustees, and associates in the world. This year's theme examined the human dimensions of opera, the needs of artists and arts workers, the patterns and #marketing behaviors of audiences, and the subjects and scope of the operas we produce. Together, we listened to industry experts articulate core human values and we explored ways to elevate human dimensions internally as the foundation for our service to our communities It was so nice spending time with and learning more about our #Lyric group as human beings, their passions and aspirations. I appreciate the moments we shared together in fostering community.❤️ My first national opera conference down! ✅️ #futureleaders #learning #leadershipdevelopment #performingarts #Opera #socialbonds #skyisthelimit #supportiveculture #peopleandculture #LifeatLyric

It is bittersweet to announce that on October 4, I will be leaving After School Matters and starting a new position as Vice President of People and Culture for Lyric Opera of Chicago. I want to thank Mary Ellen Caron, Brendan DuBois and Mischelle Causey-Drake for investing in my growth and development, and for truly inspiring me to be my best authentic self. Thank you for giving me a platform to allow my skills to shine. I will miss my ASM colleagues and my team Ryan Juguan, MHRIR, Kevin Murillo, Gladys Bautista, Anh (Kristy) Le, and Jonnathan Fernandez. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms, for always bringing your A-game, for pushing me to be globally-minded, for sharing hearty meals with a ridiculous amount of laughter, and for always having my back. I've said on so many occasions, I had the privilege of serving alongside one of the absolute best HR teams on the planet. Thank you for so many great experiences! I look forward to this next chapter in my career and continuing the impactful community-build work that I've been blessed to be part of through the years. I would be remiss if I did not mention key people that have also nutured my potential throughout my career and continue to serve as an advisor, soundboard, cheerleader and advocate. Thanks to each and everyone for your kindness. Giving immeasurable gratitude to Jackie Gordon, SPHR Charmaine Williams MSHRM, SPHR, Amy Bateson, Erskine Cunningham, Roderick Nelson, SHRM-CP,CDR, Tequilla Lopez, CDP, Gloria Morningstar, Frederick J. Riley, Omoiye Kinney, D. Todd McPherson-Gray, Deborah Rawls, JD, LL.M, CIPP, Lindiwe S. Lester, M.Ed., Ed.S., Stephanie R. Taylor, MBA, Ray Harris, PMP, CSM, SSGB, Karina Ayala-Bermejo, George M. Popelka, MA, CM&AA, Cherish Johnette, and Bela Moté. I'm headed to my next great adventure! https://lnkd.in/gFefge6d #hr #people #culturematters #culturechange #workplacewellbeing #nonprofit #gratitude

LAST CALL!!! Our team at Y-USA has an opening for a dynamic, driven, professional national fundraiser! Please share this with your networks. The application submission deadline ends tonight (10/31) at 11:59 pm CST! The Director, Strategic Philanthropy and Partnerships position does not require relocation!! Hurry and apply! Please inbox me with questions. #strategicpartnerships #fundraising https://lnkd.in/ecjWTK3