Benjy Hershorn has been named Chair, and Eve Lapin and Marcy Margolis Co-Chairs, of Houston’s ninth annual, citywide ReelAbilities Houston Film and Arts Festival, set for February 16-24, 2021. Annually produced by the JFS Alexander Institute for Inclusion in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, ReelAbilities Houston uses the arts as a vehicle to educate, celebrate and change perceptions about individuals with disabilities. The Chairs and Co-Chairs of ReelAbilities Houston lead the Festival by working with a diverse array of more than 100 volunteers and partners to create collaborative programming that reaches thousands of Houstonians.

With the mission of bringing disability awareness and systemic change to the culture of Houston’s families, institutions, places of work and communities, the ten-plus day ReelAbilities Houston Festival reaches thousands with its message of inclusion though numerous art forms. The 2021Festival will feature 16 award-winning films, the ReelPeople: UP Abilities speakers event, ReelMusic Concert, virtual art experiences featuring the work of Celebration Company artists and educational programs in schools and workplaces around Houston. All art, film and music events are free.

ReelAbilities Chair Benjy Hershorn’s path to disability advocacy began with a diagnosis of a rare form of adult-onset Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT), an inherited, progressive neuropathy. Despite these challenges and lessons learned, Benjy is grateful to be mildly affected and leads a full and active life. In his desire to support others with CMT, Benjy has become an outspoken advocate and leader in the Charcot Marie Tooth Association (CMTA).

As co-chair of ReelAbilities 2020, Benjy is also a past board member of the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center (ERJCC). He is a commercial Realtor and proud Dad to daughters Halie and Samantha.

“People living with the challenges of disabilities, both visible and invisible, all have compelling and valuable stories to share. By hearing those stories, we learn empathy and gratitude; barriers come down and our minds are opened to new possibilities. That is the essence of ReelAbilities” Hershorn said.

Co-Chair Eve Lapin is a community volunteer who has recently completed serving many years on the board of Jewish Family Service and continues to volunteer at Celebration Company and serve as chair of the JFS Disability Services Committee. In 2018, Eve received the agency’s President's Award for her advocacy work for people with disabilities. Eve is also an advocate for and founding member of The Stop ALD Foundation, a medical research foundation devoted to finding treatment and, ultimately, a cure for Adrenoleukodystrophy(ALD), a terminal, degenerative neurological disease that took the life of her oldest son, Oliver, at age 12, in 2004. Eve is married to Bobby Lapin and is the mother of their two surviving adult children, Elliott and Alec.

“Known as the most innovative ReelAbilities Festival globally, ReelAbilities Houston will continue to showcase impactful film, art and music events in a new virtual format,” said Lapin. “The virtual format of the 2021 Festival will allow people of all ages and abilities to experience the beautiful palette of events we have to offer.”

Co-Chair Marcy Margolis is an active community volunteer and mental health advocate, trained through JFS to lead Mental Health First Aid trainings to equip community members with skills to respond to the signs of mental health crisis and substance misuse. As a current board member of JFS Houston, Marcy served as a finance committee co-chair for JFS LiVE! in 2018 and received the President’s Award in 2019 for her leadership at the agency. Among her many leadership roles, Marcy also chaired the Houston Methodist’s Women’s Health Symposium and served on the board of ADL.

“During the process of planning ReelAbilities Houston 2021, I have greatly enjoyed meeting a diverse array of individuals who have accomplished so much despite facing barriers to inclusion and stigma related to living with a disability. I am incredibly excited to continue learning from community leaders and spreading awareness for ReelAbilities,” said Margolis.

Founded in 2007 in New York, and now presented in 17 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, ReelAbilities Houston is made possible by city host, The JFS Alexander Institute for Inclusion and produced in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities; founding partner TIRR Memorial Hermann; Cornerstone Home Lending Inc. and Joan and Stanford Alexander, lead sponsors; and the support of foundations, corporations, individual and in-kind sponsors.

For sponsorship information, contact Lynae Novominsky, JFS Manager of Corporate and Community Relations, at (713) 986-7815 or corporate@jfshouston.org. For general information, contact Andie Palagi, Festival Coordinator, at (713) 986-7808 or ReelAbilities@jfshouston.org.