Hello, Second Act Community—

Happy Holidays! We are so grateful to connect with you all through this community and cannot believe this incredible year is coming to a close. In this season of reflection, we wanted to share with you everything that the 2A community has had the privilege of achieving together. From team growth, to successful mentorship sessions, to new partnerships, none of this could have been achieved without you. We hope you will enjoy looking back on this exciting year with us and most importantly share in the joy of looking towards all the exciting milestones to come!

#Giving2sdAy Success!

Second Act participated in its first #GivingTuesday fundraiser on Tuesday, December 3rd. We invited members of our community to share their “Second Act Story” with us on social media. We are thrilled to announce that thanks to our incredible community members, we raised over $2,700! We sincerely appreciate everyone who supported this campaign and look forward to the funds aiding in mentorship resources, operational costs, and expanding our programs & events.

Mentorship Program

This year, we supported 30 Mentees through more than 70 sessions. Backgrounds span across a variety of different companies and programs, including:

Currently, we are thrilled to be supporting 21 Mentees. In the last quarter, we’ve also welcomed several new Mentors to the program, including:

• Alanna Swovelin: Company Manager, The Blue Man Group World Tour

• Megan Hill: Real Estate and Marketing

• Christopher Costantini: Analyst, Audax Private Equity

• Alison Shames: Student at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Katie Capristo: Head of Communications and Membership, The Kreeger Museum

Current Mentors: If you would like a mentor profile featured on our website or need to update your current profile, please complete the Headshot and Bio Form.

Mentorship Network Requests

Have something you’d like to share with our community? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected]

Seeking Volunteers to Share Attitudes / Experiences Around Dance

One of our mentors, Jackson Jirard, is looking for volunteers that might like to be interviewed about their attitudes around dance, especially the ones those volunteers might carry as a direct result of their personal experiences as ballet dancers.  He's also interested in talking to artistic directors, choreographers, ballet masters, ballet mistresses, etc. for largely similar reasons.  The goal is to publish a comprehensive piece on how the belief systems of those with power and those without in a conditional artistic environment relate to each other, as well as how that relationship then shapes oneself.  If interested, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

Seeking Mentor with Experience on GED Exam Prep

College Arts Prep, a career consulting service that helps college ready dancers transition to higher education, is looking for a mentor who has experience taking the GED. Guidance and/or tutoring could potentially be a paid opportunity through College Arts Prep. Please reach out to Joëlle Santiago [email protected] and Paige Borowski [email protected] to learn more.

Events

FREE Headshot Event

Looking to spruce up your LinkedIn profile? Realize your headshot is from over five years ago? You are in luck! Second Act is hosting a FREE Headshot Event for anyone in the Second Act community on Saturday, January 25th. We are thrilled to welcome Zorrie Petrus, as our photographer for the event. Registration and event details to come soon!

Upcoming Spring 2025 Events

Have an event idea you’d like to see hosted? Feel free to email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hosting more virtual and in-person events in the new year.

Organizational Updates

Welcoming Julie Wittenberg - Legal Coordinator

We would like to give a warm welcome to our newest Second Act team member, Julie Wittenberg, who will serve as 2A’s Legal Coordinator. Welcome, Julie!

As Second Act continues to grow, we need more volunteers. Please email us if you have interest in volunteering with us (possible Internship credit)!

From Our Partners

LEAP

Our application deadline for new students to begin with us this Spring 2025 is January 15! Students can apply here through the red “LEAP Application” button: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/academics/liberal-arts/leap/leap-admissions-process

Murmure Skincare

Murmure Skincare aims to make a real difference by offering safer and more effective skincare options that align with your values. Founded by two former ABT Dancers, Jonathan Klein and Emily Hayes, Second Act is thrilled to champion these two incredibly smart and impactful entrepreneurs who are paving the way for dancers to launch creative ventures beyond the dance studio.

We’re excited to share a discount code with you all: Use promo code “SECONDACT” for 15% off your entire purchase!

Thank you so much for your continued support, and we’re excited for what next year has in store. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or just to say hello!

Sincerely,

Erika Pugh

Director of Community, Second Act

[email protected]