White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Superstar Ballerina Misty Copeland Talks Art, Race, and Style with Septime Webre at Georgetown’s Halcyon House

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Misty Copeland and Septime Webre at the Halcyon Stage. 

Septime Webre began his premiere season as artistic director of the brand-new Halcyon Stage arts series in Washington with style, grace, and a dash of humor. He sat down with Misty Copeland, superstar ballerina, for a conversation about her career, her struggles, and her unique popularity, in the concert hall of Georgetown’s Halcyon House.

Among the topics discussed were race, particularly Misty’s role as the first African-American principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater, her new position on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, and her friendship with former President Barack Obama.

Ms. Copeland told the audience that “everyone deserves art and beauty,” in response to a question from Mr. Webre about funding for the arts and the new Trump administration.

Guests including Sachiko Kuno, Kate Goodall, Jayne Sandman, Lydia Logan, Marvin Bowser, Anne Ashmore-Hudson, and over two dozen ARC Ballet students.

In addition to the ongoing Halcyon Stage series, all Halcyon Stage artists will lead in “community sessions”. Webre said among the themes he intends to address as artistic director is “the nature of creativity and its effect on the world.”

You can find out more about Halcyon Stage here.

Misty Copeland and Septime Webre at the Halcyon Stage. 

 

Satchiko Kuno, Misty Copeland and Septime Webre at the Halcyon Stage. 

Michael Kelly Honors Halcyon House Fellows at WHC Weekend Garden Brunch

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Among the stars that gathered in Washington, DC for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this year, none were more in-demand than House of Cards’ Michael Kelly. In the show, Kelly plays Doug Stamper, President Frank Underwood’s right hand man, and the most ruthless operator in all of Washington. The real Kelly is anything but, of course. He was spotted at a number of White House Correspondents’ Weekend events including the HBO/Google party at the Renwick Gallery in celebration of the HBO film All the Way, which premieres May 21st, and the fabled Garden Brunch, the annual party that precedes the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Kelly addressed the crowd at the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch, whose theme this year was “Starting Up, Starting Out”, and the fellows at local startup incubator, Halcyon House, which provides fellowships and housing to people with big ideas in business. The House is helmed by biochemist and philanthropist Sachiko Kuno, who was also in attendance. Kelly encouraged this year’s fellows at Halcyon House to follow their dreams.

Heartful.ly CEO Kate Glantz Talks New Projects, Philanthropy, and Halcyon Incubator

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Kate at ingenuity summit

White House Correspondents’ Insider got a chance to speak with Kate Glantz, founder and CEO of heartful.ly, a company that allows engaged couples to help fund their favorite NGOs and charities on a project-by-project basis instead of the traditional wedding gift registry. Glantz was named a fellow by Halcyon Incubator in 2015.

What projects have you been most excited about?

That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child (okay fine, a favorite flavor of ice cream because I definitely don’t have any kids!).

Given the many years I spent volunteering and working in Tanzania, my heart always swells when I see a new registry supporting one of our partners in the region. I also used to volunteer as a writer/editor for D.C’s local homeless newspaper, Street Sense, and am a passionate advocate for affordable housing for all. I was really proud and excited when they came on as a partner.

That said, all 30+ partners are really special. These guys are tirelessly–and almost always thanklessly–working to make the world safer, healthier, and more peaceful. I’m excited about all of them!

What do you look for from when you pick your NGO partners?

As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I’m always rooting for the scrappy, grassroots organizations. The majority of our partners are on the front lines changing lives in big ways, but don’t have the marketing budget or bandwidth to shout it from the rooftops. Unlike the huge international organizations with entire fundraising departments, I look for partners where there is high potential to help expand donor bases and raise critical funds.

Smaller organizations are also able to peg impact more directly. Our registries are project based (think building a classroom), so when we send a project update to donors a few months after the wedding, we’re able to really demonstrate the impact that the couple’s community made.

We’re proud to support organizations across a broad range of issues
domestically and abroad including (but not limited to) healthcare, education, hunger and homelessness, and women and girls’ empowerment.

You can see a full list of our amazing partners here.

We have a comprehensive vetting process that includes an application, partnership agreement, and a review of the organization’s financials.

Any future plans for heartful.ly?

Right now, we’re all about the DMV! I’m focused on adding neighborhood nonprofits to the platform and getting more involved with the local wedding and events community. I look forward to forging new and creative partnerships with vendors, shops, and nonprofits in the area!

Over the next year, we’ll be expanding into more cities and ultimately, into additional life milestones like birthdays and anniversaries.

How did Halcyon Incubator’s fellowship help you launch heartful.ly?

My fellowship with Halcyon has been a catalyst both personally and professionally. There has been so much support at every turn. From a mentor who I meet with weekly, to a top law firm giving me pro bono counsel, to a leadership coach telling me that I have to sleep from time-to-time, I’ve jumped off this cliff with just about every safety net imaginable.

Leadership at all levels of the incubator and foundation are top notch. They’re a very modest crew, but I can tell you definitively, that Heartful.ly and I would not be where we are without them.

Also, living and working out of an historic mansion is hilarious because I’m a totally broke startup founder! Gotta say, the commute can’t be beat.

You can learn more about heartful.ly here and for more information about Halcyon House and Halcyon Incubator click here.