Rowan Guttiere is already using his voice to make the performing arts more inclusive. The Classical Academy fourth grader was recently honored with the Gen Z Change Maker Award, becoming the youngest person to receive the recognition.

Presented by the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, and the North County Arts Association, the award recognizes Rowan’s advocacy and outreach promoting inclusion and autism awareness in the arts. His work centers on a simple idea: “Every stage deserves every kind of kid.” Through his efforts, Rowan is helping raise awareness about the importance of creating opportunities where children of different abilities can participate, perform, and feel that they belong.