Mara Clawson is form Bethesda, MD and is the subject of the film Living Art. Mara is a self taught artist who uses pastels and iPad technology to convey her perception of the world, and says that “Making art makes me who I am and gives me lots of courage.”
Senior Manager of Disability and Education Policy, INCLUDEnyc
Lori coordinates the implementation of INCLUDEnyc’s policy work in the education and developmental disabilities systems. She has taught general and special education in a variety of urban settings, and has a master’s degree in Education from Brooklyn College. She is the parent of a teen-age son with intellectual disabilities who attends a District 75 program.
She furthers her agenda of why comic books are needed in classrooms and libraries with her fervent belief that comic books can be used to engage a variety of learners while promoting literacy and a love of reading. She feels strongly that the graphic comic book format helps to enrich and develop the creative mind.
Renee Woodruff Adams resides in Brooklyn, NY. She was college roommates with Mariel at Bowling Green and brought the story of The Unconditional to her husband Dave. She is a producer of The Unconditional.
Paul Damien Williams is a multi award winning, critically acclaimed filmmaker. He completed a Graduate Diploma in Documentary Filmmaking from the Victorian College of Arts in 1999 and prior to this completed a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Letters at Melbourne University. Paul has been working in the film industry since 1997. After ten years working as a professional film editor, Paul focused exclusively on directing and writing. Paul continues to work as a freelance director around Australia and abroad.
Suanne Spoke has an extensive career in theatre, television and film. She was seen in the critically acclaimed film “Whiplash” and is currently starring in the feature film “Wild Prairie Rose”, which has been a multi award winner on the festival circuit. On television Suanne recurred on “Switched at Birth” and “General Hospital” and has gueststarred on “Criminal Minds”, “Happy Endings” and many others.
In the classroom, Suanne is also a faculty member for the California Institute of the Arts, teaching acting to graduate film directors and character animators. She has participated
at the Sundance Institute Lab, served on panels for ACTORFEST on both coasts and has taught acting at Deaf West Summer School. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences.
