Kali Wasenko

Experience

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  Best Buddies International

  Jul 2007 - Aug 2012

  Developed and directed every aspect (grant writing, curriculum development, training facilitation, staff training, etc.) of Ambassadors , a division of Best Buddies International that worked directly to train people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in areas of leadership and public speaking skill building, resulting in Ambassadors being adopted as the 7th official program of Best Buddies International. Evaluated progress and maintained success of 17 high school chapters through regular visits, volunteer recruitment and management, proactive plan development, and monthly and bi-annual reports.Served as Chairperson for Best Buddies Day 2008, contributed to raising over $10,000 in funds and in-kind donations.

  • Program Director of Leadership Development

    Jul 2007 - Aug 2012

  • Program Manager, High Schools

    Jul 2007 - Jul 2008
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  Barry University

  Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

  Research Assistant -- Homelessness Program

  Assisted research team at Barry University on a $5 million federal grant to provide housing and services to families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.Conducted an ongoing literature review, researched scales to evaluate program progress, gained permission to use the scales, and completed Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposal.

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  DC Office of Disability Rights

  Jul 2014 - Aug 2016

  Public Affairs Specialist

  Increased and improved interaction between DC's Disability Rights law compliance office, community members with disabilities and other DC government agencies through innovative outreach strategies, championing a District-wide emergency communications plan for people with disabilities. and serving as staff liaison to the DC Commission on Persons with Disabilities, a mayoral-appointed commission to advise the mayor regarding disability rights issues.Directed all aspects of two Disability Sensitivity Training Video from complete creative oversight, securing actors and locations, to marketing the training video, resulting in the video receiving over 230,000 views on YouTube, receiving a 2016 Silver TELLY Award, and gathering international accolades from disability rights advocates. Show less

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  DC Developmental Disabilities Council

  Dec 2016 - Mar 2021

  Mayoral-Appointed Member

  Collaborated with up to 15 Mayoral-Appointed members to support Disability Rights Advocacy in Washington, DC by drafting a five-year strategic plan, coordinating educational programming, disseminating grants, co-leading ad hoc working groups, and coordinating resource fairs.

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  DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

  Jan 2017 - May 2019

  External Engagement Specialist

  Responsible for developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with DC arts and humanities stakeholders through consumer satisfaction surveys, working with Mayor's engagement team to coordinate her participation in arts- and humanities-related events, facilitate grantee participation in agency-sponsored events, and championing monthly Business of the Arts workshops based on stakeholder-identified topics.Updated protocol for and oversaw the implementation of the Sister Cities Grant, an international art and cultural exchange between DC and 14 Sister Cities. Efforts for the Sister Cities Grant included establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with representatives from DC’s Sister Cities embassies to strengthen the mutual benefit of Sister Cities Grant.Served as the agency Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, recommended strategies and policies for systems and programmatic changes to improve accessibility of the arts and humanities to DC residents with disabilities. I am especially proud to have spearheaded the creation of the agency’s first audio/tactile version of a photograph from the DC art collection which is scheduled to be unveiled at the 2017 Disability Awareness Exposition and will be displayed permanently at the DC Department on Disability Services. Show less

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  STABLE

  May 2019 - Oct 2020

  Director of Advancement and Operations

  First director of STABLE, a new startup nonprofit founded by artists Caitlin Teal Price, linn meyers, and Tim Doud.STABLE's mission is strengthening Washington, DC's contemporary visual arts community by providing affordable and sustainable studio space, and collaborating with local, national, and international partners to provide programming and exhibition opportunities, fostering an engaged, diverse community in Washington, DC.

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  The Aspen Institute

  May 2019 - Jun 2019

  Socrates Program Fellow-Alumnus

  The Aspen Institute Socrates Program provides a forum for emerging leaders from various professions to convene and explore contemporary issues through expert-moderated dialogue. Socrates also provides the opportunity for participants to enter into a diverse professional network, and into the broader range of the Aspen Institute’s programs. Learn more at https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/socrates-program/