June Newsletter
News & Stories
from your friends at PHAME Academy
New Chapters & Work That Matters
A note from our Interim Executive Director
Interim Executive Director Chrissy McNair at the 2024 Winter Concert.
Dear PHAME supporters, students, families, and friends,
Believe it or not, until last week, I had never attended a Get PHAMEous open house. I’ve been involved with PHAME since 2018—first as a board member, then as board chair, and most recently as Interim Executive Director. I always wanted to go, but life kept getting in the way.
Last Friday, I finally got to experience this longtime tradition, and it was such a pleasure to see what students have been working on and to be in that room full of people who believe that what we do matters—that art being for everyone matters. Get PHAMEous is all the different sides of PHAME at once: it’s fun, it’s joyous, it’s rooted in hard work and rigor and artistic risk. It’s about community, and coming together to support one another. Right now, that matters.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like this school year has flown by. There have been so many highlights: our Winter Concert at Portland Center Stage, our “Revelation Coffee” collaboration with Portland Revels, the Sapience collaboration with Artist Repertory Theatre, our most successful gala since before the pandemic, and more than 100 classes and workshops. Our student body grew to 145 students—up from 130 last year—and we’re working to serve even more in the coming year.
Since stepping into the Interim Executive Director role last August, I’ve focused on strengthening PHAME’s future—solidifying our systems, nurturing relationships, and laying the groundwork for what comes next. I’m excited to share that PHAME’s board of directors will begin the search for a new Executive Director in the coming weeks. PHAME has a proud history of strong, visionary leadership, and I am confident that our next Executive Director will be a compassionate, creative, forward-thinking leader who will guide us as we embark on our next chapter.
As for me, I’m heading into a new chapter as well—Las Vegas! My family will be moving to Las Vegas within the next few months. This move is bittersweet. I have deeply loved my time on the PHAME team, and will miss our students, staff, board, and community more than I can say. But know this: I will always be part of the PHAME family, and I will be a PHAME fan forever.
There’s already a lot of news here, I know—but there’s even more to share! Below, you’ll find two fun class videos, details about two exciting upcoming events, a call for volunteers to join our efforts in moving the PHAME mission forward and a Q&A with our wonderful new Senior Development Manager, Kelly Sahib.
Thank you for reading, and for being a part of PHAME!
With deep gratitude,
Chrissy McNair
Interim Executive Director, PHAME
In This Newsletter
A Note from PHAME’s Interim Executive Director
Musical Theatre & Broadway Dance class videos
Upcoming Events
Sign Up to Volunteer
Meet Kelly—PHAME’s New Senior Development Manager
Musical Theatre & Broadway Dance in Motion
Check out these fun moments from the last week of Spring Term!
Upcoming Events
Summer is coming in HOT with sizzling PHAME events. Our Comedy Troupe “Almost PHAMEous” is hosting a monthly showcase at Comedy Sportz the 4th Sunday of the month, and on August 1 we're holding our annual Disability Pride Celebration—in partnership with Portland Parks and Rec! As you plan your summer full of BBQs, trips to the beach, and breezy books read outside in the shade, we hope you’ll pencil us in our your calendar, too.
Almost PHAMEous & Friends - Monthly Showcase at Comedy Sportz
Sunday, June 22, 2025, 2:00 PM 3:30 PM, at Comedy Sportz
Almost PHAMEous, PHAME’s comedy troupe, hosts a monthly improv comedy showcase featuring some of Portland’s finest talent. Each month, Almost PHAMEous kicks it off with their hilarious brand of fast-paced short form improv comedy a la “Whose Line is it Anyway”.
Learn more about the Almost PHAMEous & Friends event & get tickets.
Disability Pride Concert—presented by Summer Free for All
Friday, August 1, 2025, 6:30-8:30 PM, at Woodlawn Park
Join us for our annual celebration marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990! This year, we’re proud to partner with Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Free For All to present a free, family-friendly outdoor concert at Woodlawn Park in Northeast Portland.
Volunteer
We’re building something meaningful, and we’d love for you to be a part of it.
Whether you have a few hours a month or just want to stay in the loop for future opportunities, your support helps us grow stronger and reach further. Volunteering with us isn’t just about giving time—it’s about building community, creating impact, and forming lasting connections.
Are you interested in:
Helping at events? (ushers, greeters, food handling/bartending, raffle ticket selling, etc)
Sharing your skills (design, writing, tech, etc.)?
Spreading the word in the community or social media?
Supporting behind the scenes?
Let us know how you’d like to get involved by filling out this quick form. We’ll follow up with opportunities that match your interests and availability.
Meet Kelly—PHAME’s New Senior Development Manager
We’re excited to welcome Kelly Sahib to the PHAME team! Kelly joined us in May, bringing more than a decade of fundraising experience and a passion for working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We wanted to share a brief Q&A with Kelly. She looks forward to meeting you soon!
Senior Development Manager Kelly Sahib.
Q: Can you share a bit about your background and experience in development work?
A: I’ve spent over a decade in nonprofit development, primarily working with individuals with I/DD and their families, focusing on building strong donor relationships, designing impactful campaigns, and fostering community partnerships. My work has always centered around service—whether that’s raising funds for inclusive programs or creating opportunities for people to connect with causes they care about. I strongly believe in connecting people to opportunities where they feel like their gift really matters.
Q: What does serving the I/DD community mean to you personally?
A: I’ve had the privilege of working alongside individuals with I/DDs and their families, and I’ve seen firsthand the creativity, resilience, and diverse perspectives they bring to the world. My goal is to amplify their voices and ensure they have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.
Q: You often talk about creating “joyful opportunities.” What does that look like in your work?
A: Joyful opportunities are moments where people feel included and celebrated. That could be a community event where everyone dances together, a new program that opens doors for someone, a meaningful celebration that brings people together, or even a simple conversation that makes someone feel valued. I really try to create joyful moments in everything I do—because joy is transformative…and contagious!
Q: What are you most excited about in your new role?
A: I’m excited to dream big with this team! There’s so much potential to grow our impact, deepen our community ties, and create lasting change. I’m especially looking forward to meeting our supporters, hearing their stories, and working together to build something truly meaningful.
Q: Even though you’ve only been here a few weeks, you’ve already immersed yourself in what we do. What’s been your favorite PHAME moment so far?
A: I would have to say attending the Student Cabaret! It was a great opportunity to see PHAME students stand in front of an audience and just do their thang! We clearly have some extremely talented artists who love to cheer each other on!
Q: When you’re not at work, what do you do for fun?
A: Fortunately, I get to work with my husband on evenings and weekends with our catering and event business. When we don’t have a gig, we enjoy being in nature, having a nice dinner out or spending time with our super sweet fur babies.
Thanks for reading, everyone!