Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 5 - Blue

13 | Lyric Opera of Chicago Lyric Opera of Chicago sees nearly constant activity in the opera house throughout the course of the year. As such, one might imagine that Lyric employees are most frequently spotted conversing with donors in The William B. and Catherine Graham Room or working behind the scenes of a production. However, this past spring, beachgoers walking along the shores of North Avenue Beach would have seen Lyric staff from Chief Financial & Operating Officer Vincente Milianti to Talent Management Coordinator Camilla Fernandez, notably out of context. Clad in neon-green safety vests and sunglasses, they and their colleagues were picking up discarded bottles, crinkled wrappers, plastic bags, and other waste scattered throughout the sand. This beach-clean up was an initiative provided through the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Service and Learning Collaborative — a long-term commitment to volunteerism spearheaded by the company’s People & Culture department. Volunteering opportunities are available to all Lyric staff members — from full- time and part-time to seasonal and contracted employees. Administrating such a project, open to all, requires the department to consider more than 11 different schedules all at once. “We are aware of the natural rhythms of the opera season when planning and managing volunteer experiences,” says Jennifer Boyd, Vice President of People & Culture. Ultimately, the scheduling varies so that participants can be assured there is always a next time. This initiative isn’t a one-and-done activity; rather, it is a continuous, recurring commitment to long-term collaboration with the community. Volunteers have participated in numerous community-oriented activities since the initiative’s creation. On Earth Day, participants removed invasive species in the Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve. These efforts were undertaken to preserve the lands of the Council of Three Fires — the Ojibwe, Ottawa and Potawatomi — as well as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk, and Meskwaki peoples. Employees also participated in an urban scavenger hunt with The Simple Good organization; packaged food and fulfilled online orders with Nourishing Hope nonprofit; participated in a toy drive with the Carole Robertson Center for Learning; donated to Venezuelan migrant crisis supply drives; and collaborated with The Friendship Center to combat food insecurity. “I am so appreciative of the consideration that Lyric’s People & Culture team gives to finding and executing volunteer experiences,” says Tasha James, Marketing Manager of Discover Lyric. “We are in the business of connecting to our community and wanting to serve our city. We do that primarily through opera, but in order for opera to thrive in a city, that community has to thrive as well — so it seems natural to be of service outside of the opera house too.” Many of the organizations Lyric collaborates with champion the attitude that no volunteering role is too big or small. The Simple Good, for example, maintains that one simple act of goodness can send ripples into the world and create a “pay it forward” effect. From physical, on-site participation to self-evaluations about energy output and conservation, every action is a step towards bettering the local community. And these collaborations aren’t just investments in the community. “Not only is it volunteerism in terms of your time,” Boyd continues, “but it’s investing in yourself in terms of expanding your awareness and knowledge — equipping yourself to be more empathetic, compassionate, and adept to a greater sense of purpose.” All of the volunteer projects also have an element of learning, which can include simple tips to incorporate into daily life and valuable information from field experts. Creating and developing practical methods for people to give back day-to-day makes a big difference. “Volunteering can deepen an individual’s sense of purpose by connecting their actions to something larger than themselves,” Boyd remarks. “When people contribute their time and skills to a cause they care about, they become part of a collective effort to drive change or improve the lives of others. This sense of belonging and impact fosters a greater understanding of how personal efforts contribute to societal well-being.” Over time, this can lead to an increased commitment to making meaningful contributions elsewhere, cultivating a strong sense of purpose that goes beyond “You always feel so much better about the world and your place in it when you spend a few hours volunteering.” — Tasha James