Meet RESPECT Board Member: Amy Keller

Why is RESPECT important to you?

Respect is important to me because of the values and social emotional learning that it instills in young people. Theatre is impactful in starting important conversations, and RESPECT does that with such grace and openness to every student.

What is your favorite RESPECT program and why?

My favorite RESPECT program is Stop & Think, for elementary aged students. It has an important message about how to express big emotions, and it does so in a tactile way that students can relate to. And the helmet prop is really fun and colorful!

How did you get involved with RESPECT?

I got involved with RESPECT when I was working with Girls Inc of Omaha and heard students engaged in conversations with the actor-educators. There was laughter and also really impactful discussions that made me recognize how important their work is. Students were able to form quick bonds with caring adults, and also gained some confidence in using their own voices.

What would it have been like to have RESPECT when you were a kid in school?

I have always been the theatre kid, so I would have appreciated seeing adults come to my school to perform. As a young person, it’s easy to think that actors are only on a television screen, but seeing the local impact of artists in Omaha would have been really moving for me when I was younger.

What do you like about being on the board of RESPECT?

I like the Education Committee quite a bit. Going through the scripts to determine what is relevant, and how to adapt it to the needs of current young people brings me a lot of excitement. The language and trends may change, but the messages of RESPECT performances is consistently relevant.