In The Round: May 2020

These words guide Edna Kane-Williams both in her work at AARP and in her life, including when she discusses why Arena Stage matters to her.

There are some people who have jobs that they were born to do. Edna is one of those people. As the Senior Vice President of Multicultural Leadership at AARP, Edna is responsible for the strategic growth of the association’s multicultural audiences, including Hispanic/Latino, African American/Black, Asian American/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native and LGBT audiences. The common thread in Edna’s impressive career is serving the needs of older adults and multicultural communities. She has served in senior management positions for over twenty years.

For Edna, AARP sponsoring Arena felt like an obvious fit, “I appreciate that Arena Stage makes a deliberate and intentional effort to ensure that the offerings of the theater are available to as broad an audience as possible. And that really reflects and is very consistent with how AARP likes to do its work. We’re natural partners in that way.”

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.

Originally, AARP joined Arena Stage in 2018 as a one-time sponsor of Jubilee, a world-premiere a cappella musical. Jubilee, through vibrant spirituals and touching testimonials, is the story of the Fisk University Jubilee Singers, a world-renowned African American vocal ensemble.

“To be honest, I thought we were doing a singular donation to support one particular show at Arena Stage,” said Edna. The subsequent season, however, included other productions that aligned with AARP’s commitment to diversity and community engagement, so “we are enjoying a long-term partnership because of the consistent quality of the offerings…There’s always something that resonates with what we’re trying to do.”

Arena Stage and AARP have hit upon a natural partnership with the shared desire to serve the community and represent America’s many voices. “I care about American Theater being reflective of all of America – Arena Stage does that. It does it well. It does it year-in and year-out, it’s not episodic. It’s something that I feel is embedded in the philosophy of the organization.”

Shayla Hines, Director of Institutional Relations at Arena Stage, praised the support from Edna and AARP: “We are proud to have such a supportive relationship with AARP. The passion of Edna and her team makes a direct impact on the health and well-being of our community. AARP's support this season brought so many untold stories to life. We are forever grateful for their work and their support of Arena Stage!”

When thinking about her relationship with Arena, Edna remarked, “I am fortunate to work with a lot of organizations in my role at AARP. Not many organizations make me feel the way Arena Stage does. The level of personal connection that Arena Stage works to have with sponsors is indicative of the level of effort it makes to connect with the community at large.”

Arena Stage looks forward to a long and fruitful partnership with AARP, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating diverse American voices at the forefront.