In February 2022, Learning Courage hosted our second annual virtual event. This year our theme was Courage. It takes courage to tell your story, to stand up and speak out for change, to shift damaging cultural systems and dynamics that lead to harm, and to heal from sexual abuse and violence. This year our performers were inspired by our theme of courage and showed it through dance, poetry, song, spoken word, and storytelling; several of them even created new pieces, especially for our event.  We were honored to have Gregory Jbarra, well known for his role as “DCPI Garrett Moore” on the hit CBS police drama BLUE BLOODS, his extensive work on Broadway, and his Tony Award-winning for his portrayal of the Dad in Billy Elliot the musical serve as our host for the evening. 

Emily Elbert has played in the bands of many artists including Jacob Collier, Sara Bareilles, Leon Bridges, Lorde, Jenny Lewis, and Esperanza Spalding. As a writer, she has released five solo albums as well as a platinum-selling single with Bruno Major. And as a solo artist, she has carried her music around the world, playing over a thousand shows from Italy to Indonesia. Anchored by what L.A. Weekly calls a “funky, engrossing groove,” Emily believes in the connective power of music. emily elbert