Luke’s “Best of All”

In case you missed it, Detroit’s 25-year-old self-advocate, board member, and GiGi’s Ambassador, Luke Tyrrell, had the honor of introducing GiGi’s founder, Nancy Gianni, to hundreds of constituents at the 2024 Leadership Conference in Chicago. He began by sharing some of his personal journey as an individual with Down syndrome, and inspired all the attendees with his charming, energetic, and powerful message. If you haven’t yet, take a moment and watch Luke’s full speech here.

While he’s no stranger to the stage and certainly not shy, this was a big public speaking engagement and Luke worked hard to make it happen. We asked Luke and his mom, Amy, to give us a peak behind the scenes to understand all the preparation that went into playing such an important role at the conference.

The process began when Luke received two nominations and was then invited to interview with members of the national office’s conference committee. Daniell and Jennifer asked Luke questions about his experiences as a participant and volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse, and what he likes about himself. He then read a script they provided. 

Once he was chosen to introduce Nancy, Luke began meeting weekly with members of the conference committee to prepare. Luke and Amy co-wrote his script and created a PowerPoint presentation to accompany it. Focused and committed to achieving his “Best Of All”, Luke practiced regularly by reading his script aloud in several of the programs he attends. Each time, the families cheered him on and were so excited for him. Amy said Luke practiced in the car the whole way to Chicago, and went line-by-line, making last-minute revisions.

While at the conference, Luke attended an Ambassador’s class and made many new friends. He said the break-out sessions and networking event at the flagship GiGi’s Playhouse in Hoffman Estates, IL were very interesting and he learned a lot. He said his favorite part of the experience was watching members of all the Playhouses receive awards, and then dancing on Saturday night.

Attended by 66 Playhouses and startups, this conference provides a space for staff members, volunteers, board members, families, and participants to come together and listen to one another. Luke’s speech served as a reminder of how much we can learn from participants and how all individuals with Down syndrome deserve to be heard. He worked hard and made his Detroit fanbase proud. Individuals like Luke are making a vital impact in our community and helping us change the world!​