Leadership
Creating Connection is led nationally by:
- Arts Midwest: a nonprofit that promotes creativity, nurtures cultural leadership, and engages people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to communities and enriching people’s lives
- Metropolitan Group: a social change agency that crafts and integrates creative and strategic services that empower public purpose organizations to build a just and sustainable world
Local leadership teams have been assembled to advise and provide guidance to state and regional pilot and exploratory efforts. These local teams include:
California (San Jose)
- Chair: Kerry Adams-Hapner, San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs
- Marilee Jennings, Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
- Lisa Mallette, City Lights Theatre Company
- Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez, MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana
- Larry Hancock, Opera San Jose
- Rick Jenson, San Jose Downtown Association
- Brendan Rawson, San Jose Jazz
- Joan Phillips, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
- Lisa Vollendorf, San Jose State University
- Wisa Uemura, San Jose Taiko
- Tamara Alvarado, School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza
- Connie Martinez, Silicon Valley Creates
- Andrew Bales, Symphony Silicon Valley
Massachusetts
- John Beck, ArtsBoston
- Blair Benjamin, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
- Nick Capasso, Fitchburg Art Museum
- Richard Chacon, WBUR
- Cathy Edwards, New England Foundation for the Arts
- Jen Erickson, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
- Allyson Esposito, The Boston Foundation
- Jay Finney, Peabody Essex Museum
- Priscilla Kane Hellweg, Enchanted Circle Theater
- Justin Kang, City Awake
- Giles Li, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
- Greg Liakos, Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Wayne McWorter, ArtsEmerson
- Celina Miranda, Hyde Square Task Force
- Myran Parker-Brass, Boston Public Schools
- Ann Smith, Featherstone Center for the Arts
- David White, The Yard
- Matt Wilson, MASSCreative
- San San Wong, Barr Foundation
Oregon
- Chair: Julie Vigeland, immediate past chair Oregon Arts Commission
- Adam Davis, Oregon Humanities
- Andrew Apter, Umpqua Valley Arts Association
- Brian Rogers, Oregon Arts Commission & Oregon Cultural Trust
- Brian Weaver, Portland Playhouse
- Carol Shepherd, Liberty Theater
- Chuck Sams, Confederated Tribes of the Umatila
- Crystal Muno, Ross Ragland Theater Performing Arts Center
- Cynthia Fuhrman, Portland Center Stage
- Eloise Damrosch, Regional Arts & Culture Council
- Freda Casillas, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
- Gayle S. Yamasaki, Klamath Falls City Schools
- Jeff Hawthorne, Regional Arts & Culture Council
- Jordan Anderson, Oregon Public Broadcasting
- Kregg Arntson, Portland General Electric
- Martha Richards, The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation
- Phil Ortega, LIFE Art
- Soo Pak, Portland Parks & Recreation
- Suzanne Gray, Portland State University College of the Art