Dear Community,
It is with sincere gratitude that I
share that I will be transitioning out
of my role as the Executive Director
of the American Youth Circus
Organization at the end of 2018.
When I reflect on the most formative
events in my life thus far, all roads
lead to AYCO. This organization has
directed me towards my professional
path, sparked my ambition,
surrounded me with people whose
footsteps I want to follow in, and
introduced me to the people I love
most in this world. It has shown
me acts of resilience, bravery, true
humility and love.
I am eternally grateful to those who
have come before me - individuals
who have not only taken action, but
also known when it was their time to
move on and actively cultivate the
next generation of leaders. Thank
you to our founder Kevin O’Keefe,
Erin Maile O’Keefe, Rick Davis, and
Jackie Davis for showing me that
it is possible to gracefully “pass it
on” in the service of life and love. It
takes bravery, I’m finding, to leave
something good and true. I will
never have adequate words to thank
Zoe Brookes for her passionate
dedication, love, honesty, and
generosity - thank you for being my
North Star.
Thanks to our membership, without
whom AYCO/ACE would not exist.
To every single board member
whose tenure has aligned with mine
- you are the backbone of AYCO
and deserve immense gratitude
from us all. Sincere thanks to the
committee members who keep our
programs growing, and to the staff
who work tirelessly in the service of
our mission. To Cirque du Soleil and
every donor who has believed in us.
To David Hunt for saying yes when I
first approached AYCO in 2006, to
Pam Ford for the simple gift of an
introduction that would change my
life, and to Carrie Heller who took
care of my soul and spirit over the
past year. Finally, thank you to Jesse
AlFord for ever relishing in this deep
and profound relationship in work
and play, and to Sam Boyles for being
on the journey with me always, ever
open to balancing work and life and
love.
It is with great confidence that I
share that Tara Jacob will be taking
on the role of interim ED while the
board conducts a formal search
for new leadership. Tara has been
involved with AYCO for almost 10
years in a variety of capacities, and
is already rising to the occasion
to build a bridge so that the
organization won't miss a beat in the
transition. She and Claire Dehm have
been expertly and lovingly working
for AYCO over the past year and the
organization would not be what it is
without them.
It is truly my hope that if you have
been impacted by the beautiful
web of AYCO that you will keep
weaving. Honor the links and the
ties, the growth and the change,
the relationships and the profound
community we have here. Look back
at the brave, humble, giving people
whose shoulders we all stand on.
Look at where you are right now —
appreciate that this space and place
and galvanized community exists.
Listen to the upcoming generations
— they are a true gift to humanity
and society.
AYCO did not spring up out of
nowhere. It started with not only a
dream, but actions taken to achieve
that dream. It is my sincere hope
that this organization will only
multiply in its significance to the
circus movement, and that you will
be an active part of it.
Serving as Executive Director of
AYCO and ACE has been the most
powerful and significant force in
my life. I am looking forward to
remaining deeply connected to this
community — to participating in new
and different ways, and to continuing
to develop the deep relationships
that have been cultivated.
I look forward to seeing you at
EdCon and elsewhere down the
road. It is a true honor to pass it on.
In the spirit of circus,
Amy Cohen
ABOUT STAFF BOARD SUBSCRIPTIONS ADVERTISEMENTS SUBMISSIONS KEEP IN TOUCH PHOTOS
Founded in 2014, the American
Circus Educators Association (ACE)
is a branch of the American Youth
Circus Organization (AYCO),
a non-profit organization that
supports
the diversity of circus educators by
organizing festivals & conferences,
advocating for circus education,
generating and sharing resources and
information, and setting guidelines
for safety in circus
education and practice. For
information about events,
membership, or to get involved, visit Amy Cohen, Executive Director
Tara Jacob, Account Manager
Claire Dehm, Program Manager
Tyler Jacobson, Editor
Lisa Godin, Assistant Editor
Kim Campbell, Contributing Editor
Lucy Little, Graphic Designer
Circus Runaway, Media Jesse AlFord, President
Carlo Pellegrini, Vice President
Dan Roberts, Treasurer
Dr. Jen Agans, Secretary
Dr. Anne Miller
Jesse Dryden Subscriptions to ACE Magazine are
now free. Please visit
americancircuseducators.org to
subscribe or become a member. Members of the circus community
are welcome to advertise in the ACE
Magazine. Email
[email protected]
for information. We invite any reader with a
circus-related story, opinion ,
review , poem , quote , or artwork
to submit inquires to editor@
americancircuseducators.org. T: 914.441.8834
E: amy@americanyouthcircus