The Arc Caddo-Bossier will host its 2026 Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana in Bossier City, featuring entrepreneur, animator and educator Dani Bowman as the keynote speaker.
Doors will open at 11 a.m.
The annual event brings together civic leaders, sponsors and donors to celebrate The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s mission of building unlimited opportunities for people with disabilities.
Bowman is an entrepreneur, animator, educator and public speaker with autism who has built a career focused on inclusion, creativity and opportunity for people who are neurodivergent.
Diagnosed with autism at age 3 and nonverbal until she was 6, Bowman discovered animation as her first language.
That discovery shaped the direction of her career and eventually led her to establish DaniMation at age 14.
DaniMation is a social enterprise that teaches animation and creates professional pathways for young people and young adults who are neurodiverse.
Bowman later expanded the program internationally with DaniMation UK in 2019. To date, she has taught animation to more than 3,500 students.
Bowman holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and an MBA in Global Strategy & Leadership.
She has produced 16 original animated short films, each of which premiered at San Diego Comic-Con.
She is also known for her role as a cast member on Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum U.S.”
Through the show and her other work, Bowman advocates for meaningful representation of people with disabilities in media, education and employment.
Her personal and professional journey reflects the mission of The Arc Caddo-Bossier, which focuses on creating opportunities for people with disabilities.
Through DaniMation, Bowman works to give young people who are neurodivergent opportunities to develop their skills, build confidence and pursue meaningful careers on their own terms.
Kristen Powers, CEO of The Arc Caddo-Bossier, said Bowman’s work represents the organization’s vision for the people it serves.
“When we look at Dani, we see exactly what we hope for every person we serve: the chance to become the best version of themselves, with nothing standing in the way. Representation like hers helps break down the barriers that too often hold people back,” said Kristen Powers, CEO of The Arc Caddo-Bossier.
Tickets for the Leadership Luncheon are $75 per person. Sponsorship opportunities also remain available. Registration closes Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 11:30 a.m.
Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased through The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s website at thearccaddobossier.org.
The Arc Caddo-Bossier traces its history to 1954, when a group of parents came together to create more opportunities for their children with disabilities. That effort eventually grew into the organization’s Goldman School and Child Development Centers.
Today, The Arc Caddo-Bossier serves people of all ages and their families through programs that include workforce development through Frost Industries, the Conly Day Program, child education through the Goldman School and Child Development Centers, residential services through eight Community Homes and Community Living Supports and Services, equine assisted services through GREAT Equine Assisted Services, and advocacy and community engagement initiatives.
More than 70 years after its founding, The Arc Caddo-Bossier continues its mission of building unlimited opportunities for people with disabilities.
