Laura Zabel is Executive Director of Springboard for the Arts, an economic and community development agency run by and for artists. Dedicated to helping communities connect to the creative power of artists, Springboard’s programs link artists to patrons, healthcare, entrepreneurial development, fiscal sponsorship, and more. Springboard operates Creative Exchange, a platform for sharing stories and helping artists and communities replicate successful development projects. Zabel speaks frequently on the power of creativity and artist-led community development at events like the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Urban Land Institute, while her insights have been featured in outlets from The Guardian to the New York Times. Laura is also a writer and performer focused on the ways that theater, in particular comedy, can connect disparate communities. She has written and performed with numerous groups, including Comedy Suitcase, the Brave New Workshop, and Theater in the Round.