Hamilton Relay Recognizes Leader in the District of Columbia

From: Hamilton Relay - Sep 29, 2006

In honor of Deaf Awareness Week, Hamilton Relay is pleased to recognize Fred Michael Beam as the 2006 Deaf Leader for the District of Columbia.

Fred provides artistic direction and outlet for Deaf artists of all colors, ages and professional backgrounds by recruiting artists and performers and establishing partnerships with various performing arts, visual arts and media companies. Fred founded the award-winning, non-profit organization known as Invisible Hands, Inc., which promotes Deaf culture awareness through art and entertainment.

In addition to performing with many dance companies and theaters, including Arena Stage, Jewish Community Center, Imagination Stage, DuPont Alley Dance Company, two of Fred’s dance companies, The Wild Zappers and the National Deaf Dance Theater, have toured across the United Sates, as well as several countries including Japan, Australia, Finland, and France. Not only has Fred worked within the Deaf community, he has also worked with highly acclaimed professional theater groups including Open Circle, Imagination Stage and Liz Lerman Dance Co.

Fred has taught and choreographed dance for many Deaf and hearing children within the Metro Washington, DC area. He has worked with the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School as well as Gallaudet University. Fred developed and leads two different educational theater programs in over 300 schools within the metro Washington, DC area. The program, "Sign Me A Story," is targeted to elementary school children allowing them to learn about American Sign Language and Deaf culture through interactive theater activities. The other program, "Let’s Sign and Dance," is a family oriented program that include lessons on how Deaf people perform, dance and sign songs.

Fred established the Black Deaf Expo in 2003, providing the Deaf Black community the opportunity to stand proud, displaying their culture. Fred serves on the boards of DC Area Black Deaf Advocate, Quest for Arts, Inc., and is a member of the National Association of the Deaf.

This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.