Arts & Cultural Organization Management

Alex Drumm Jr is a filmmaker, writer, performer, and photographer. Hailing from Dorchester, MA, Alex was introduced to the curating and appreciation of the vast stories that can be told. Alex worked his way through being an eighth-grade algebra teacher to now the Program Coordinator of a film and photography internship at Castle Square Tenants Organization. He founded a program called “Change Creators” in fall 2022 that teaches teens how to tell different stories of themselves, their peers/families, and each other through film and photography. The teens also learn how to host events, unpack social justice with their identities, and job readiness skills. Here, Alex has crafted and fostered a community where teens can learn not only technical aspects but also how to be proud of their stories.

Andrew Clarke (he/him), raised in the Greater Boston Area, developed a love for the arts at an early age beginning with visual art primarily through drawing, painting, and collage before eventually expanding to music. At the age of eleven, he picked up a guitar that transformed his relationship with the arts through musical expression. His love of rock, funk, hip hop, and jazz defined his early musical journey which led him to perform onstage through school events and occasional recitals in his adolescence. Fast forward to adulthood, at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, he studied english/communications with a focus in descriptive writing and a minor in business which led him to public media.

Photo: Artists For Humanity

Dominique is an emerging artist from the Boston area that focuses on human relations while educating the youth. Growing up in South Boston as one of three mixed kids was pretty tough as she was reminded of her race constantly. Her family, on the other hand, helped her feel safe and welcome. Dominique knew she was different from a young age which pushed her to explore self-expression through art—this led to her secondary education at Boston Arts Academy. Realizing her talent could land opportunities, her tertiary education was quickly realized at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Choosing a major in printmaking, which was then considered a dying art before COVID, she saw possibilities with the idea of creating in multiple—to always have an image to work with—which led to new ways of thinking about the art form during lockdown.

Photo: Artists For Humanity

Elisa H. Hamilton is a socially engaged multimedia artist who creates artworks and community-centered projects that emphasize shared spaces and the hopeful examination of our everyday places, objects, and experiences. She holds a BFA in Painting from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an MA in Civic Media from Emerson College. Hamilton is a 2023 Brother Thomas Fellow, and she has been recognized by WBUR as one of 25 Artists of Color Transforming The Cultural Landscape. In 2024, Hamilton was bestowed with an honorary doctorate from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Her work has been shown locally and nationally in solo and group exhibitions.

Photo: Kate Preftakes

Dr. Ian Saunders is the Artistic Director of Project STEP, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive music instruction to young musicians from historically underrepresented communities in classical music. With extensive experience in both performance and arts administration, Dr. Saunders has made a lasting impact on the organizations he has served.

Photo: Artists For Humanity

Kaleighia (Kali) Green, a Springfield native and natural-born creative, comes from a large, close-knit family. She is a multimedia, high-vibrational artist with a diverse skill set in painting, graphic design, videography, and visual scribing, as well as a licensed realtor specializing in art and design.

Photo: Artists For Humanity

Kenneth Griffith is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC) Premier Choir. He leads artistic programs and coaches the conducting and teaching staff. Kenneth is passionate about the role of music in cultivating community and positive social change. His dynamic programming and ability to unify singers across differences have resulted in an active career on stage, in schools, and in communities around New England, sharing the songs and stories of underrepresented peoples.

Mattie Holloway (she/her/hers) is a Public Relations Associate at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA). In her role, she develops and executes public programs, including the MFA’s first College Night since 2015, and creates written content such as press releases, social media posts, webpages, and targeted database marketing emails.

Ngoc-Tran Vu (she/her) is a Vietnamese-American multimedia artist, cultural organizer, and lightworker whose socially engaged practice centers on the intersections of art, community, and justice. As a 1.5-generation refugee, Tran draws inspiration from her lived experiences and those of intergenerational communities to create deeply resonant works that explore themes of diaspora, memory, rituals, and healing. Her art spans photography, painting, sculpture, and installation, designed to engage and connect audiences with intention and care.

Photo: Artists For Humanity

Stewart Ikeda (he/him) is Director of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships at The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA, where he has provided marketing and communications leadership during a period of major expansion since 2019. Stewart has decades of marcomm experience with organizations in industries ranging from publishing and recruitment to education and travel. Also an experienced editor, book author, public speaker, and former professor of English and Asian American Studies, he has managed national magazines and award-winning web publications (The Black Collegian, Diversity Employers), is author of a novel, What the Scarecrow Said (HarperCollins), and is a widely published writer of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

Born in New Orleans, LA, Treshor Webster is a versatile vocalist, arts administrator, and creative force. A 2023 graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Treshor is committed to making a lasting impact on the arts. Holding a BM in Vocal Performance with a minor in Creative Entrepreneurship, her passion for the arts is boundless. In addition to her musical talents, Treshor is a dedicated leader and advocate. She continues to evolve as a vocal performer in Boston while championing the voices of young Black artists in the arts community. Currently serving as a Program Manager for Africana Studies at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Treshor works to amplify student voices and create pathways for greater access to higher education and beyond for Black students.

Photo: Artists For Humanity

Vahdat Yeganeh is a Learning Lead and the facilitator of the Dialogue of Civilizations program at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University. He is also the founder and the artistic director of the Boston Experimental Theatre, where he practices Towards the Theatre of Unknown and Dialogue of Civilizations. Vahdat is the assistant artistic director and faculty member at PersPsy Psychoanalytic, where he teaches seminars and workshops on Theatre and Psychoanalysis.

View full biography

Yaffa Fain is a passionate and dedicated public sector leader with over eight years of experience in municipal work and the nonprofit sector, specializing in cultural development, creativity and community engagement. Currently serving as the Assistant Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Office, Ms. Fain has successfully coordinated and managed hundreds of large-scale events, public art activations, creative projects and placemaking efforts in Worcester, the second largest city in New England. Additionally, Ms. Fain staffs the Worcester Cultural Coalition nonprofit advocacy organization of 90+ arts and cultural institutions across Worcester County.

Zacahri Mascary is a first generation Haitian-American spoken word performer, published author, stand-up comedian, actor, and future polyglot linguist with roots throughout Massachusetts. Zacahri uses his words to inspire free thought, challenge conditioned ways of thinking, and center community-based healing. As a teaching artist, Zacahri Mascary facilitates workshops which empower the voice of participants and encourages them to reflect upon, honor, and reclaim their power by telling their stories. He is expressly passionate about helping people tune into their inner voice. He does so by sharing practices and frameworks that assisted him through his own experiences growing up in a multilingual home.

Photo: Artists For Humanity