PASADENA, CALIF.: ArtEquity has announced its second Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Leadership Circle cohort in partnership with the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. The BIPOC Leadership Circle brings together 50 art and culture leaders from across the U.S. and Canada, with virtual convenings spanning six months that began on Sept. 16 and will culminate on March 10, 2022. 
ArtEquity developed and launched the BIPOC Leadership Circle with the support of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale in 2020. This year’s cohort of 50 BIPOC leaders representing organizations across the US and Canada work within a number of art sectors, including the performing and visual arts, arts councils, arts service organizations, and foundations. The 2021 cohort includes Karrie Auger (Independent Artist), Makram Ayache (Shajara Consulting), Eboni Bell Darcy (Stages), Michael Bobbitt (Massachusetts Cultural Council), Veronica Chapman-Smith (Opera Philadelphia), Janet Chen (Harvard Art Museums), Katie Christie (Voices United), Lisa Karen Cox (Ryerson University), Tyrone Davis (Center Theatre Group), Kelvin Dinkins Jr. (David Geffen School of Drama at Yale), Ariel Estrada (Actors Equity Association), Kealoha Ferreira (Ananya Dance Theatre), Jerrin George (Gallaudet University), Mario Gómez (The Online Dramaturg), Kyle Haden (Carnegie Mellon University), Karen Hampton (Textile Society of America), Ruby Lopez Harper (Americans for the Arts), Nathan Henry (Cleveland Play House), Yvette Heyliger (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Brittany Hunt (Indigenous Ed LLC), Inji Kamel (Seattle Repertory Theatre), Kimaada Le Gendre (Queens Museum), Miko Lee (Teaching Artists Guild), Kathy Liao (Mid-America Arts Alliance), Justin Lucero (El Paso Opera), Will Luera (Florida Studio Theatre), Brandie Macdonald (Museum of Us), Ashley Lyle (Black Literature and Art Queens Network), David Mack (Invertigo Dance Theatre), Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj (American Stage Theatre), Maya Maniar (No Guarantees), Sara Martinez de Osaba (Creative Growth Art Center), Krystin Matsumoto (Center Theatre Group), Naysan Mojgani (Round House Theatre), Kim Montelibano Heil (the Old Globe), Laura Moreno (the Catastrophic Theatre), Ayodele Nzinga (Lower Bottom Playaz), Ashley Pourier (the Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School), Alejandra G Ramirez (De Young Museum), Anuradha Rana (DePaul University), Sisi Reid (the Welders), Roman Sanchez (California Arts Council), Holly Sansom (Theatre of the Oppressed NYC), Maria Servellon (Emerson College), Sophia Skiles (Brown University/Trinity Repertory Theatre MFA), Daviorr Snipes (Alliance Theatre), Theresa Sotto (formerly Hammer Museum), Aqiyla Thomas (American Documentary), Patrick Torres (Raleigh Little Theatre), Crystian Wiltshire (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company).
Each group session will guide the cohort toward a reimagining of structures, committed to uplifting and supporting communities and leaders of the global majority.
“We are creating an intentional space where leaders within Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color are not merely focused on fixing problematic structures but are also focused on imagining and creating new leadership models that support their leadership practices and shift away from old paradigms,” said program co-leads Cloteal L. Horne and Nijeul X in a statement.
Contributing to this year’s cohort experience of BIPOC Leaders are artEquity executive director and founder Carmen Morgan, program co-leads Nijeul X and Cloteal L. Horne, administrative assistant Kayla Votapek, and an experienced team of co-facilitators, including Mica Cole (national consultant), Ty Defoe (independent artist), Patricia Garza (director of programs and engagement, Network of Ensemble Theatres), Leslie Ishii (artistic director, Perseverance Theatre), Dat Ngo (director of innovation and engagement, Sitar Arts Center), and Lauren Turner (producing artistic director, No Dream Deferred NOLA).
Launched in 2015, artEquity provides tools, resources, and training for art and activism. With over 5,000 individuals trained, and a growing alumni community, artEquity aims to build a base of individuals and organizations strategically poised to create and sustain a culture of equity through arts and culture.
