GiGi’s Playhouse Ambassadors
What does it mean to be a GiGi’s Playhouse Ambassador?
GiGi’s Ambassadors will have exemplary communications skills and be an active member of their community. They fully understand and convey the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse, “To change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.” GiGi’s Ambassadors are self-advocates and well versed in “What GiGi’s Playhouse means to me.”
A GiGi’s Ambassador is a role model and inspiration for all who enter GiGi’s Playhouse. A participant who completes the GiGi’s Ambassador certification will be given opportunities to represent GiGi’s Playhouse both in-house and in the community. They will have opportunities to actively engage in Playhouse Tours, Awareness Booths, be asked to speak at community engagement events, be an active Board of Manager member and interviews about GiGi’s Playhouse.
Maya Greengus, Ambassador
Maya Greengus is an individual with Down syndrome who cares about accepting others as they are for their Down Syndrome. Maya decided to be a part of this advocacy program to help people find their voice & to be valued as they are as a human.
Sadler Bell, Ambassador
Sadler has been an advocate since he was a teenager. His parents were big advocates for him while he was growing up and what they did rubbed off on him! Sadler is part of two non-profit organization’s in the Madison area, GiGi’s Playhouse Madison and LOV Inc . Sadler stays very active in the Down syndrome community and he was even on a billboard for GiGi’s Playhouse in 2020.
Sadler is a huge Alabama football fan and says “Roll Tide!”
Jen Strauss, Ambassador
Jen is a wonderful self advocate. In addition to being part of the Madison Playhouse Self-Advocate Committee, she is a Lifetime Ambassador for the non-profit organization of Nothing Down that’s based in New Jersey. She spends her time by staying active in her community and also in the Down syndrome community. Originally from South Florida, she moved to Wisconsin to be closer to her sister in late 2016. She has done 2 Buddy Walks in South Florida prior to moving and did 2 Buddy Walks here in Wisconsin. She’s known for her inspirational video messages in the Down syndrome community that she shares on YouTube and Facebook in March and October.
Jen loves and enjoys music of all kinds but loves her heavy metal with the likes of Skillet, Disturbed and 5 Finger Death Punch and much more. She is also a huge WWE Fan. A lover of animals and is obsessed with her wolves and her cat, Abbie!
Abigail Kaiser - Ambassador
Abigail has been a disability advocate since she was five years old. She has had the pleasure of introducing Governor Tony Evers for a bill signing and has been recognized in the statehouse chamber during one of his speeches on public education.
Abigail has been involved with GiGi's Playhouse Madison since it’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. She has been both a participant and a volunteer.
When not in school or at work at one of her community based jobs, Abigail loves acting, going to concerts, swimming, and dancing.
Abigail is excited to be part of the GiGi’s Playhouse Madison Self-Advocate Committee as the next step in her advocacy career.
Claire Bible - Ambassador
I was raised in Madison and graduated from Memorial HS. I went to college in Boston and Madison and I am a certified Early Childhood assistant teacher.
I did a lot of advocacy around post-secondary education for people with disabilities. I have worked with Americore and the BPDD as well as teaching. I am passionate about education of children with disabilities especially in the area of literacy and the creative arts because I know just how meaningful and important the creative arts are in bringing out the sparkling best out of anyone with or without disability.