Nicole Smith, the President of the Starkloff Disability Institute Young Friends, was presented with the 2017 Emerging Leader award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She received this in recognition of her accessibility work at the Missouri History Museum.

Nicole, and three other emerging leaders, were presented with this award on August 10th at the 17th Annual Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Conference in Austin, Texas. It recognizes outstanding arts administrators and institutions whose work furthers the field of accessibility, and acknowledged those who are motivated to become an advocate for accessibility within their communities.

Nicole has successfully implemented practices recognized by LEAD to shape her work at the Missouri History Museum, to be inclusive of people with disabilities. Congratulations, Nicole on this recognition of your diligent work!