Older is Bolder: Aging and Ability Panel Discussion

Join us for a panel discussion about the intersection of aging and ability, inspired by the exhibit Older Is Bolder, on display in the Ida B. Wells corridor of Harold Washington Library Center until October 12. Panelists include community member Rebecca Ruiz and Chicago Public Library staff members serving on the Diversability Committee. Rebecca Ruiz grew up on Chicago’s South Side, living in neighborhoods including South Chicago, Marquette Park, and Back of the Yards. She now calls Humboldt Park home. After 43 years working for AT&T, Rebecca now spends her time with her three daughters and 14 grandchildren. A lover of art, she finds joy in both creating and appreciating it. She is also dedicated to giving back to her community by volunteering to help seniors with transportation, support unhoused people, and distribute supplies to schools in need. She also remains involved in her church. Created by local nonprofit Mather, “Older Is Bolder by Mather” challenges stereotypes about aging by celebrating older adults who lead, create, advocate and inspire in their communities. Through portraits and personal stories, this exhibit highlights individuals who demonstrate that growing older is not a limitation, but an opportunity for continued creativity and connection. Art Sims is a Legendary Broadcaster, Social Media Influencer, Voiceover Artist, and Commissioner for the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging. He/him/his. Sims, affectionately known as "Chat Daddy," has entertained audiences on the radio, television, in print, onstage, and online for over 30 years. Sims is a familiar, welcome voice in many diverse communities in Chicago and around the world. Known for humor, quick wit, charming conversation, and amiable personality, "Chat Daddy" has traveled nationally and internationally, providing inspirational, educational, and vital information on developing and maintaining positive, sustainable relationships. Sims has received numerous awards and honors for his commitment to fostering more positive relationships. Sims is the creator, executive producer, and host of The Real Chat Daddy Show, a nightly digital media news and entertainment show streamed via various popular social media platforms. Sims is also the former executive producer and host of the highly successful nightly radio show Real Talk, Real People with Chat Daddy, heard globally on WVON 1690AM via iHeartRadio from 2015 until 2020. Sims' civic engagement and social involvement include a 2019 fellowship and ambassadorship with Disability Leads. Sims is a former member of the Health Equity Advisory Committee for The American Heart Association of Metro Chicago. In 2019, Sims was a Disability Lead Fellow and is currently an Ambassador for the organization's programs. In 2024, Sims received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by President Biden. In July 2026, the Governor of Illinois appointed Sims Commissioner of the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging. Sims excels in every facet of entertainment as an entertainer, talk show host, actor, writer, director, executive producer, philanthropist, activist, and cancer survivor. Sims is a noted Disability Rights Advocate. His faith in God has driven Sims’ many endeavors and guided him to success. Tsehaye Geralyn Hébert is the first person with a disability, the first elder, and the first African American woman to win the prestigious Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwright Award. Disability activist, citizen playwright and cultural architect, Tsehaye Geralyn Hébert’s nationally acclaimed work tells stories in the human experience nuanced through her African American Southern and Creole heritages. (Sundance Theatre Lab, Frank McCourt Memoir Contest; Alliance Kendeda National Graduate Playwright Awardee; 3ARTS, Bodies of Work and Voices Rising Fellow/Vermont Studio Center; The Guild Literary Complex; Midwest Black Playwrights Project; Louisiana's Native Voices and Visions; Chicago’s RhinoFest and Cultural DC/SourceFest are among her accolades.) A recent member of Cultural Access Collaborative, former president of the African American Arts Alliance, she is an honorary board member of Piven Theatre Workshop. She recently joined the board of Open World Design and co-Chaired Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s 2026 Gala. She volunteers as an audio describer-in-training for Needles and Threads Quilters Guild and other organizations. A Northwestern University graduate, she earned her MFAW from the School of the Art Institute Chicago. Accessibility Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.