Eleanor’s #BestofAll and a Special Program Announcement
Climb higher and higher, step after step, till you reach the top, and then WOOSH! Feel the wind in your hair and your heart skip a beat as you sail all the way to the bottom. Is there anything more exhilarating than going down a slide??? Most toddlers don’t think...
Fantastic Friends with Volunteer, Dietician, & Mother: Bonnie Sullivan
Good friends are nothing short of FANTASTIC at GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit! Every first Friday of the month, participants ages 18 years and up gather for our Fantastic Friends program. The intention behind this program is to provide opportunities for adults with Down syndrome to take ownership in their time at...
Amina Grace Speech and Language Program: The Clinicians’ Perspective IV
From left to right: Tiffany, Jena, Aric, Alexa, Saima, Kim The GiGi’s Playhouse Amina Grace Speech and Language program provides children, youth, and adults with greatly expanded opportunities to evolve and refine their clarity of speech, word order, enunciation, and message meaning. These skills are paramount to fostering greater self-confidence,...
Having Fun and Getting Fit with Our Friends at GiGi’s Playhouse!
If you happen to be strolling by the Playhouse on a Tuesday evening, you’ll likely hear upbeat music, notice a large group of friends having a great time, and witness some wonderful volunteers supporting participants in reaching their #BestOfAll! For one hour a week, youth and adults with Down syndrome...
Math & Literacy Tutoring: The Pioneers, Participants, and Purpose
Four short years ago, two phenomenal women, Bev Macke and Susan Chrysler, along with a team of eager volunteers, launched our Literacy Tutoring program for individuals with Down syndrome. During two of those years, the pandemic caused volunteers and participants to navigate uncharted territories with virtual programming. Despite the less-than-ideal...
Meet Our Intern: Britney Rodriguez!
We are thrilled to welcome an awesome intern from Oakland Community College to the crew at GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit this summer! Britney has already been super helpful by diving into 1:1 Literacy Tutoring with several participants, supporting group programs as an assistant and photographer, getting to know Playhouse families, helping...
Board Member Spotlight: Lisa Kocab
Today we’re featuring the one and only, LISA KOCAB. This is the woman, the mother, the teacher, the advocate who moved to Metro Detroit from Milwaukee in 2016, looking for services for her son, Pj. Unsatisfied with what she found at the time, she brought with her the passion and...
Board Member Spotlight: Jen Seiler
Jen is the most recent volunteer to join our Board of Managers, and her outgoing personality and zest for networking have already brought connections and resources that benefit our Playhouse. When Jen is not at GiGi's, you might find her any number of places, as she stays very active within...
Board Member Spotlight: Luke Tyrrell
Today we are delighted to recognize one of our highly esteemed board members: Luke Tyrrell: Self Advocate Extraordinaire Luke is a kind and bright young man, whose positive spirit is contagious and is ALWAYS down to help! As a teenager, Luke was part of the founding team that brought our...
Amina Grace Speech and Language Program: The Clinicians’ Perspective III
The GiGi's Playhouse Amina Grace Speech and Language program provides children, youth, and adults with greatly expanded opportunities to evolve and refine their clarity of speech, word order, enunciation, and message meaning. These skills are paramount to fostering greater self-confidence, comprehension, problem-solving, school readiness, social skills, independence, and overall quality...
Board Member Spotlight: Taylor Johnson
Not only is April National Volunteer Appreciation Month, but we’re also continuing to roll out spotlights for each of our amazing Board Members! Today we are delighted to recognize Taylor Johnson: Wife, Mother, Theatre Educator, Professional Actor, Disability Justice & Down Syndrome Advocate, and inimitable member of the Board of...
Board Member Spotlight: Mark Brincat
Mark has been a member of our board for only a few months, but you wouldn’t know it by his level of involvement. He didn’t waste a minute before jumping in with both feet! Mark’s relationship with GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit began through an annual golf fundraiser his family’s foundation hosts....