BETEL ARNOLD is a Dominican playwright and advocate for people with disabilities. She is currently earning her MFA in Creative Writing at Western New England University. Theater: Her first play, Tight Pants, received various staged readings and was produced by the Majestic Theater, West Springfield. Other plays include: It Is Finished, (Northampton 24 Hour Theater Project) and El Colmado, (Western New England University). TV/Radio: Host, directed & produced, talk show: Simply Talking, a cable access program which ran on over a dozen Western Mass channels, 2009-2014. Community Engagement/Activist work: Betel’s passion is advocating for the rights of people with physical and intellectual disabilities which inspired her to create the Arts Project. As Co-founder of the Arts Project, she has produced and directed various works in Western Massachusetts, including: “Extraordinary People with Extraordinary Talents” at the Basketball Hall of Fame, and “A Night to Believe” to sell out audiences in Massachusetts. Awards: Citation of Recognition from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives, 2004 for the Extraordinary People with Extraordinary Talent, production. Citation of Recognition from Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate for Commitment and dedication for work with persons with disabilities, 2005. The 2006 Angel Award from the Brianna Fund for Children with Physical Disabilities, for providing “Hope, Flight and Freedom
