LETTER FROM MONETTA WHITE
Dear Friends,
As I reflect on this past year at the Museum of the African Diaspora, I am filled with deep gratitude for you, for our community, and for our shared belief that art and culture have the power to inspire, connect, and transform lives.
This year marked a meaningful moment in MoAD’s journey. We launched our revised mission: to place contemporary art and artists of the African Diaspora at the center of the global cultural conversation. This guiding statement reaffirms our commitment to artists, community, and cultural stewardship, while boldly positioning us for a future that is expansive, inclusive, and globally engaged. It is not simply words on a page. It is a call to action shaping how we work, who we serve, and how we imagine what a museum can be.
In 2025, we proudly celebrated our 20th anniversary as a milestone that honors two decades of creativity, courage, and community. Over the past twenty years, MoAD has evolved into a vital local anchor and an internationally recognized platform for artists around the world. This anniversary was both a celebration of our legacy and a launching point for our next chapter.
One of the year’s defining achievements was the extraordinary success of UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe, recognized by Hyperallergic as one of the top exhibitions in the world. This global acknowledgment affirmed what our community already knows: that visionary artists and ambitious curatorial practice can transform conversations far beyond our walls.
We also presented the second annual NEXUS: SF Bay Area Black Art Week, deepening our commitment to regional artists while amplifying Black creative excellence on a national and international stage. NEXUS continues to grow as a powerful convening platform—connecting artists, curators, thinkers, and audiences through celebration, dialogue, and shared purpose—strengthening our community through collaboration with our cultural partners.
This year, we announced the hiring of Cornelia Stokes as the inaugural Joint Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora in partnership with SFMOMA, solidifying this groundbreaking collaboration and expanding pathways for artists and emerging curators. This partnership reflects our commitment to shared learning, institutional excellence, and
building lasting infrastructure for the field.
We invested deeply in caring for our museum and our visitors, completing major renovations and launching our VEX Ambassador Program to ensure that every person who walks through our doors feels welcomed, safe, and inspired. These efforts reflect our belief that hospitality, education, and community belong at the heart of everything we do.
Like many cultural institutions, we faced real challenges, including shifts in public funding and ongoing economic uncertainty. Yet, because of you, we met these moments with resilience and creativity. Your generosity allowed us to stay focused on our mission, support artists with integrity, and remain a trusted cultural anchor for San Francisco and beyond, because the work we do, and the artists we serve, truly matter.
I am profoundly grateful to our staff and Board of Directors, whose dedication, care, and leadership bring MoAD’s vision to life every day. And I am especially thankful to you— our donors, members, and partners— who continue to invest not only in programs and exhibitions, but in people, ideas, and futures. Above all, this year stands as a testament to the strength of our community.
Your trust, talent, and belief make everything possible.
As we look ahead, I am energized by what we are building together: a museum that honors our histories, elevates our voices, and creates space for imagination, dialogue, and possibility. Together, we are building something enduring, courageous, and transformative. With your continued support, MoAD will remain a place where artists thrive, communities gather, and stories are told with honesty and pride.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. I am honored by your trust and grateful for your partnership.
Warmly,
MONETTA WHITE Executive Director and CEO
IN HONOR OF OUR FOUNDER
BELVA DAVIS (1932-2025)
The Museum of the African Diaspora exists today because of the vision, courage, and unwavering belief of our founder, Belva Davis.
Long before MoAD had walls, galleries, or global recognition, Belva imagined a space where the stories, creativity, and brilliance of the African Diaspora would be honored with dignity and excellence. She understood that representation matters and that our communities deserved an institution rooted in truth, pride, and possibility.
Her leadership helped bring this vision to life, creating a cultural home that continues to inspire artists, audiences, and future generations. Twenty years later, her spirit remains at the heart of everything we do.
As we celebrate our past and build our future, we do so standing on the foundation she created. We are forever grateful for her courage, her generosity, and her love for this community.
With enduring appreciation,
THE M o AD FAMILY
EXHIBITIONS
In 2025, MoAD presented a dynamic slate of six exhibitions that advanced the museum’s commitment to contemporary art of the African Diaspora while expanding public access, strengthening the visitor experience, and deepening institutional capacity. Despite being closed for seven months during the year, the museum sustained momentum through thoughtful programming and strategic engagement. Together, these exhibitions positioned MoAD as a vital site for artistic experimentation, historical reflection, and collective imagination.
LOVE + BASKETBALL: MY FREEDOM
GOTTA
RIM ON IT
2.4.25 - 3.2.25
Love + Basketball: My Freedom Gotta Rim On It was a unique and inspiring exhibition that intertwined the worlds of art and sports. Launched during the electrifying NBA All-Star Weekend and Black History Month, this vibrant exhibition was a tribute to the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora and its profound impact on both artistic expression and athletic excellence. The exhibition explored the intersection of sports and culture, highlighting themes of heritage, achievement, empowerment, and community awareness. Works were selected from an open call to global contemporary Black artists, celebrating a sport that has profoundly influenced contemporary Black art and culture.
UNBOUND: ART, BLACKNESS & THE UNIVERSE
10.1.25 - 8.16.26
UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe is a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the intersections of Blackness and the cosmos. Curated by Key Jo Lee, MoAD’s Chief of Curatorial Affairs
and Public Programs, the show invites visitors to reimagine Blackness not as fixed or earthbound, but as infinite, expansive, unknowable, and cosmically rich.
Inspired by Lee’s essay, “Gesturing Toward Infinitude: Painting Blue/Black Cosmologies,” the exhibition asks: What if we approached Blackness with the same wonder we bring to the universe? What if, like a black hole or distant star, Blackness could be a site of mystery, power, and transformation?
Featuring a global and intergenerational group of artists—including Lorna Simpson, Rashaad Newsome, Gustavo Nazareno, Harmonia Rosales, Didier William, and many more—the exhibition spans painting, sculpture, installation, and video. Works traverse the historical and the speculative, the scientific and the spiritual.
Three core themes guide the journey:
GEO-CARTOGRAPHIC:
Blackness mapped across earthly and celestial terrains.
RELIGIO-MYTHIC:
Blackness as origin, cosmology, and creation story.
TECHNO-CYBORGIAN:
Blackness as posthuman, shaped by technology, hybridity, and the ability to move fluidly between identities.
The posthuman is not one fixed form, but an evolving state of becoming, capable of multiple perspectives.
More than an exhibition, UNBOUND is a philosophical inquiry and sensory experience. A rich array of public programs, an onsite learning lab, and the museum’s first community-written labels ensure depth and accessibility for all visitors.
Ultimately, UNBOUND invites us to wonder: What else can Blackness be? When freed from institutional constraints and historical reductiveness, Blackness becomes luminous, an expansive mode of being, a cosmology of creative potential. The show invites us not simply to observe, but to wonder. To stand at the edge of the known and look out into the dark, where possibility lives.
CONTINUUM: MoAD OVER TIME
10.1.25 - 3.8.26
Continuum: MoAD Over Time was a landmark exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the Museum of the African Diaspora. More than a retrospective, Continuum introduced MoAD’s next frontier, showing how the museum has been both foundational to the Bay Area’s cultural landscape and
an increasingly vital global venue for art of the African Diaspora.
Through archival materials, fine artworks, and the histories of signature programs—including the Emerging Artist Program, MoAD in the Classroom, and community celebrations such as the Afropolitan Ball and Diaspora Dinner—along with community stories and interviews, the exhibition honored MoAD’s legacy as a catalyst for Black creativity and culture while charting its expanding role on the world stage.
Organized thematically and chronologically, Continuum moved through key eras and ideas in the museum’s evolution, tracing a living timeline from its founding to the present and into the future. Visitors encountered foundational figures, pivotal exhibitions, program milestones, innovations, and visionary leadership moments. This show was designed to celebrate memory, spark reflection, and invite participation.
ARTISTS IN THIS EXHIBITION:
Cheryl Patrice Derricotte, Chester Higgins Jr., JoeSam., Richard Mayhew, Ramekon O’Arwisters, Gordon Parks, Lava Thomas, and Sam Vernon.
EMERGING ARTISTS PROGRAM
2025 marked a significant moment for MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program. The year coincided with the program’s ten-year anniversary and a planned pause in exhibitions during the museum’s building closure. Rather than a year of inactivity, 2025 became a moment of reflection, assessment, and strategic planning that honored the program’s legacy while laying the groundwork for its next phase.
Since its launch in 2015, the Emerging Artist Program has become a cornerstone of MoAD’s commitment to supporting Black artists rooted in the Bay Area. What began with two inaugural artists, Tim Roseborough and Cheryl Derricotte, has grown into a decade-long initiative that has supported 31 solo exhibitions, each selected through a panel of four jurors, prior to the program’s evolution in 2026. Over ten years, the program has provided artists with institutional visibility, curatorial support, and sustained engagement with audiences, while contributing meaningfully to the contemporary art ecosystem in the region.
Although the museum was closed for most of 2025, the year remained active behind the scenes. Staff used the pause to reflect on the program’s impact, review application processes, and strengthen internal frameworks that support equity, rigor, and transparency. Applications for
the Emerging Artist Program reopened in 2025, signaling a renewed commitment to the program and sustaining strong interest from artists eager to engage with MoAD’s platform.
That interest continued to grow year over year. In 2024, nearly 220 artists initiated applications, with 113 completing submissions. For the 2026–27 cycle, 343 artists initiated applications and 148 completed submissions. This represents an increase of approximately 56 percent in initiated applications and 31 percent in completed applications, underscoring the program’s rising visibility, competitiveness, and relevance. While the program remained focused on Bay Area based artists during this period, MoAD observed growing national and international interest, signaling the program’s expanding influence beyond its immediate geographic scope.
The Emerging Artist Program’s impact is further reflected in the trajectories of its alumni. Former EAP artists such as Helina Metaferia, Sydney Cain, Angela Hennessy, Ramekon O’Arwisters, and Mary Graham have gone on to achieve national recognition and expand their practices through exhibitions, residencies, and major institutional opportunities. Their continued success speaks to the program’s role as
a catalyst for artistic growth and long-term professional development.
Even during the exhibition pause, MoAD remained engaged in advancing emerging artistic voices through its broader exhibitions and curatorial work.
In the exhibition Unruly Navigations reflected the museum’s attentiveness to global dialogues and the expanding reach of its curatorial networks. While the Emerging Artist Program did not yet support international applicants, this presentation underscored the program’s growing visibility within a global contemporary art context.
Building on this momentum, the 2027–28 Emerging Artist Program will expand to support a residency based in San Francisco, alongside new opportunities
for national and international artists. This evolution reflects MoAD’s long-term commitment to artist development, cultural exchange, and positioning the museum as a site of sustained artistic inquiry within both local and global contexts.
As the museum prepared for reopening, 2025 functioned as a bridge between the Emerging Artist Program’s first decade and its future direction.
Grounded in reflection and informed by ten years of artist-centered practice, MoAD enters the next chapter of the Emerging Artist Program with renewed clarity, strengthened infrastructure, and a continued commitment to supporting artists at critical moments in their careers.
PUBLIC & ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
TOURS
1,081 Participated in Tours
45 Tours Given
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
8,290 Attendees
The total number of participants in programs and events for 2025 was 8,290. This includes on-site and virtual programs, as well as off-site, co-presented programs.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025
57 Total Programs
• BLACK CHOREOGRAPHERS FESTIVAL: HEALING INTIMACIES
• CULTURAL CRITIC-IN-RESIDENCE
• DIASPORA DINNER WITH TONI TIPTON-MARTIN
• FREE COMMUNITY DAYS
• HEALTH & WELLNESS: ALBANY ROAD SCREENING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GILEAD
• LITQUAKE WITH HARMONIA ROSALES
• M o AD IN THE COMMUNITY: BLACK GOLD: STORIES UNTOLD
• OPEN MIC WITH GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS PLAYER MOSES MOODY
DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM ATTENDEES:
Based on the feedback we receive from our Online Program Surveys, the ethnic demographic breakdown of our attendees is:
48% African Descendant
31% White
13% Asian or Pacific Islander
10% Latinx
4% Other
3% Prefer Not to Say
Note: the percentages exceed 100% because respondents are allowed to choose more than one category.
KEY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
In 2025, Public and Academic Engagement deepened its impact by curating dynamic, interdisciplinary programming that amplified the museum’s exhibitions and expanded community engagement. Key initiatives included:
• M o AD IN THE COMMUNITY
• ART & WELLNESS
• M o AD MIX
INTERDISCIPLINARY
ENGAGEMENT
Interdisciplinary approaches were central to MoAD’s 2025 programming, ensuring multiple entry points for audiences to connect with the museum’s mission. PAE intentionally showcased diasporic cultural expression across diverse disciplines, creating immersive and thought-provoking experiences. This approach was reflected in programming that engaged:
LITERATURE & POETRY
Elevating voices through spoken word, readings, and literary discussions.
MUSIC
Showcasing the sonic landscapes of the African Diaspora through live performances and explorations of musical heritage.
DANCE
Highlighting movement as a form of storytelling, resistance, and celebration.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Addressing critical issues through dialogue, activism, and artistic expression.
FOOD JUSTICE
Examining the intersections of culinary traditions, sustainability, and equity.
FILM
Presenting cinematic works that reflect diasporic histories, narratives, and contemporary realities.
CULTURAL POLITICS
Exploring the impact of historical and contemporary socio-political movements on Black art and identity.
MIX & VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT
MoAD Mix: A Spirited Discussion on Art and Culture is a dynamic live Zoom series where art, music, and conversation come together to celebrate the richness of Black creativity. The series explores pressing contemporary concerns through the lens of contemporary Black art. Each session features a thoughtfully crafted
playlist that sets the tone, alongside curated cocktail and mocktail recipes inspired by the artwork. Conversations invite deeper reflection on the stories, symbols, and cultural narratives shaping today’s artistic landscape, creating space for dialogue, connection, and shared experience.
“I enjoyed the sense of community that came through even over the screen. We were able to gain insight into the artworks without it feeling like a lecture but more like a collaborative space where the audience was teaching and learning from one another. I also appreciated Keisha’s ability to make every guest feel heard through the way she responded to and engaged with people’s reflections.”
“I liked how it was small and intimate and how the panel asked and engaged with the audience instead of having an isolated conversation and the audience only being able to watch. I appreciated how it generated a discussion as opposed to only just presenting the works. It facilitated a dialogue that can also be continued so that was cool.”
SECOND ANNUAL NEXUS: SF BAY AREA BLACK ART WEEK
“An amazing community that unifies Black creatives and shines a light on the Bay Area for the world to see.”
- NEXUS ATTENDEE
The second annual Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week, led by the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), marked a powerful leap forward in scale, visibility, and regional impact . In 2025, Nexus deepened its role as a cultural connector by activating Downtown San Francisco’s Yerba Buena arts corridor and strengthening creative exchange with Oakland and the East Bay. Over one week, Nexus unified artists, institutions, and audiences across the Bay Area, drawing more than 2,000 attendees to exhibitions, open studios, public programs, and
citywide celebrations that energized local businesses and amplified Black artistic excellence at a national level. This momentum was made possible with the generous support of the Svane Family Foundation, whose investment helped fuel collaboration, access, and economic vitality during a pivotal moment for San Francisco’s cultural recovery. Nexus also generated major national and regional press, reinforcing Downtown San Francisco as a destination for Black art and culture and elevating Bay Area artists on a global stage.
“Nexus felt like a cultural renaissance—connected, energized, and deeply inspiring.”
- PARTICIPATING ARTIST
2025 NEXUS BY THE NUMBERS
70+ Artists & Cultural Leaders
50+ Partner Organizations across SF, Oakland & the East Bay
25 Exhibitions
6 Open Studios
5 Artist Talks & Panels
2 Film Screenings + 1 Fashion Show
2,000+ in-person attendees
ARTIST, CURATOR, & SCHOLAR COLLABORATIONS
Public and Academic Engagement collaborates with many exhibition artists, curators, and scholars throughout the year.
ARTISTS
Sidra Bell
Demetri Broxton
Soleé Darrell
Adam Davis
Cheryl Derricotte
Angela Hennessy
Chantal Hildebrandt
Ann “Sole Sister” Johnson
M. Carmen Lane
Jessica Monette
Gustavo Nazareno
Rashaad Newsome
Ramekon O’Arwisters
Trina Michele Robinson
Harmonia Rosales
Bryan Keith Thomas
Tricia Turner
CURATORS/SCHOLARS
Faith Adiele
Chantall-Jeannette Black
ReeLaviolette Botts-Ward
Gina Breedlove
Artel Great
Essence Harden
Justin Hosbey
Nia Imara
Tomiekia Johnson
Key Jo Lee
Nia McAllister
Halifu Osumare
John A. Powell
Toni Tipton-Martin
Dori Tunstall
PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MoAD’s Public and Academic Engagement department had the honor of forging long-term partnerships with many community and cultural institutions.
BAMPFA
Black Choreographers Festival
Black Joy Parade
Booker T. Washington
Community Service Center
CubaCaribe Festival of Dance & Music
East Palo Alto Cultural Center
Fog Art + Design
For Site Foundation
Frameline
Gilead Sciences
Homegirl Healin’
ICA SF
Jenkins Johnson Gallery
Juneteenth Bayview Festival
Juneteenth Fillmore Festival
La Cocina
Litquake
Lorraine Hansberry Theater
Mechanics’ Institute Library
San Francisco Story Fest
SFJAZZ
SF Carnaval
SFMOMA
SF Public Library, Main Branch
St. Regis Hotel
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND OUTREACH:
Our main effort to reach the community and provide access to the museum is through MoAD’s “Thrive at MoAD” Free Community Days, which offer free admission to the entire community, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente.
LEARNING & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
1,816 YOUTH AND TEACHERS SERVED
M o AD IN THE CLASSROOM
MoAD in the Classroom (MIC) is a dynamic arts-based program that brings visual literacy and cultural studies to third-grade classrooms across the San Francisco Bay Area. Designed to foster a deeper connection to art and museum experiences, MIC integrates sustained classroom instruction with museum-based learning. Each participating classroom receives eight in-class visits from a MoAD Teaching Artist and one museum visit per session, providing students with repeated, meaningful engagement with contemporary art and museum practices.
In 2025, MIC served 1,236 students across 50 classrooms, partnering with 19 schools, 13 of which were Title I schools. The program engaged classrooms from 12 school districts across the Bay Area. During Spring 2025, MIC partnered with 12 schools, including 7 Title I schools. In Fall 2025, the program served 12 schools, 6 of which were Title I. Five schools participated in both semesters, reflecting sustained partnerships and ongoing demand.
Across the year, MIC delivered approximately 12,500 total contact hours. Students participated in eight hours of in-class instruction focused on museum themes, current exhibitions, and key visual arts concepts, followed by a two-hour museum visit where they explored exhibitions, practiced looking and discussion skills, and engaged in hands-on creative activities. Through project-based learning, students created original artwork that reflected their understanding of program themes and culminated in school-based showcases where students shared their work with peers and educators.
Teachers consistently emphasized the value of MIC’s integrated approach, noting that students developed critical thinking skills and meaningful personal connections to art. Teaching Artists described the program as impactful both as educators and as practicing artists, highlighting the importance of sustained time with students and the role of MIC in supporting local artist employment.
“Her knowledge and art of explanation for my 4th - 8th grade group was excellent. Keisha was the best! Will visit again and will definitely become a member!”
TEEN PROGRAM AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
MoAD’s Teen Program, a vital pathway for youth development and workforce preparation, was paused in 2025 due to funding challenges during the closure and reopening period. This pause created an opportunity to reassess the program’s structure, sustainability, and long-term alignment with the museum’s mission. Planning continued throughout the year to reposition the Teen Program as a core workforce development and artist pipeline initiative connecting young people to creative careers and professional skills. The Teen Program will return in summer 2026 with plans to serve at least 25 teens through paid, studiobased learning, mentorship with artists and museum professionals, and exposure to career pathways in the arts and cultural sector.
GUIDED TOURS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Guided tours were a key component of Learning and Family Engagement’s work in 2025. MoAD served nearly 500 tour participants across school groups, seniors, nonprofit organizations, and corporate partners. These facilitated experiences emphasized close looking, dialogue, and critical engagement with exhibitions, supporting visitors in making personal and cultural connections to the art on view.
Educators and group leaders consistently praised MoAD’s docents for their knowledge, patience, and ability to engage students across grade levels. Teachers highlighted the clarity with which guides introduced complex concepts such as the African Diaspora and noted the welcoming and supportive environment created for young people and educators alike.
PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
SCHOOL PARTNERS:
Aspire Berkley
Maynard Academy
Bella Vista Elementary
Berkeley Arts Magnet
Buri Buri Elementary
Cornell Elementary
Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary
George Washington
Carver Elementary
Greenleaf Elementary
Joaquin Miller Elementary
John Muir Elementary
Kipp Bayview Elementary
Malcolm X Academy
Manzanita Seed Elementary
Markham Elementary
Meadows Livingstone School
Northern Light School
Ocean View Elementary
Olinda Elementary
Rooftop Elementary
Rosa Parks Elementary – Berkeley
Rosa Parks Elementary - San Francisco
St. Leo’s the Great
Sylvia Mendez
PARTNERING DISTRICTS:
Alameda Unified School District
Albany Unified School District
Berkeley Unified School District
Oakland Diocese
Oakland Unified School District
San Francisco Unified School District
South San Francisco Unified School District
West Contra Costa Unified School District
PARTNERING COUNTIES:
Alameda County
Contra Costa County
San Francisco County
San Mateo County
CURRICULUM AND THEMES
MIC serves schools and educational institutions by providing curriculumbased art programming designed to be engaging, inclusive, and culturally reflective. The program includes classroom visits, interactive activities, and exhibitions that allow students to explore themes related to the African Diaspora while enhancing their visual literacy skills.
With gentrification impacting many of the neighborhoods our students call home, we were mindful of creating programming that invites them to reimagine their surroundings in ways that reflect their experiences and needs.
Through hands-on activities and thoughtful discussions, students are encouraged to design spaces that offer joy, safety, and a sense of belonging.
FINANCIALS
M o AD 2025 OPERATING YEAR
Individuals
Corporations
Foundations
Government Earned Income
Restricted Funds Released TOTAL Programs
General Management
Fundraising
Increase in Net Assets TOTAL REVENUES
EXPENSES $1,362,679 $1,470,899 $2,507,377 $1,494,016 $256,554 $472,500 $7,564,025 $3,919,806 $729,111 $1,114,270 $1,800,838 $7,564,025
*Financials are reported prior to the annual audit.
TRANSFORMATIONAL PARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT
MoAD is profoundly grateful to the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and CommonSpirit Health for their extraordinary multiyear commitments, whose combined support represents a powerful investment in the museum’s mission and future. Together, these leadership gifts advance MoAD’s exhibitions, programs, and community impact, expanding access to contemporary art and deepening engagement with Black artists, curators, and communities.
The KHR McNeely Family Foundation’s gift serves as a transformational investment that elevates every facet of MoAD’s work—from major exhibitions
and public programs to youth education, community learning, and increased access to contemporary art. Complementing this support, CommonSpirit Health’s commitment strengthens MoAD’s ability to deliver community-centered exhibitions and educational initiatives that foster dialogue, wellness, and meaningful connection through art.
Together, these partners exemplify the impact of sustained, valuesdriven philanthropy. Their generosity helps ensure MoAD remains a vital, welcoming space for learning, creativity, and cultural exchange for years to come.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS
This list reflects gifts received between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If you have any questions or concerns, please email development@moadsf.org
LUMINARY
KHR McNeely
Family Foundation
VISIONARY
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
California Natural Resources Agency
San Francisco Grants for the Arts
INNOVATOR
Anonymous
CommonSpirit Health
Jill Cowan and Stephen Davis
Crankstart Foundation Ford Foundation
Gilead Sciences
The Estate of Frankie and Maxwell Gillette
Hearst Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
Salesforce
Westridge Foundation
CHAMPION
CSAA Insurance Group
Mastercard Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
San Francisco Foundation
Svane Family Foundation
Peggy Woodford Forbes
BENEFACTOR
Schatzie Allen Jefferson and Family
Amplitude, Inc.
Wayee Chu and Ethan Beard
HK Charitable Fund
Lisa and Kenneth Jackson
Karen Jenkins-Johnson and Kevin Johnson
Kimball Foundation
Dorothy Lathan
David Neequaye and Deepa Chatterjee
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Beryl and James Potter
University of California Office of the President
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation
ADVOCATE
Adobe Employee Community Fund
Anonymous
Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co., LLC
Bernard Osher Foundation
The Campbell Foundation
Ken and Caretha Coleman
Eunu Chun and Lisa Kim
Corinne Dixon
Dodge & Cox
Brook Dooley
FivePoint Holdings, LLC
Golden State Warriors
Greenberg Traurig
Peter Griffith
Karla Haynes Family Foundation
Akieva and Martin Jacobs
Vimbayi Kajese and Tawanda Sibanda
Nilka and Maik Klasen
Wright and Cathy Lassiter
Jacques Courseault
Pam Moore
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC
Denise Vohra
Charles and Cheryl Ward
Diane Wilsey
Robin Wright
Yerba Buena Partnership
CURATOR
Acumen Building Enterprise
Katie and Rodger Allen Anonymous
Ekeeti Amanam
Anna Banks and Gregory Hunter
Denise Bradley Tyson
Emmett Carson
CBIZ
Carmen Chang and William Simon
Rosemarie and Ronald Clark
Columbia Bank
Jay Cowan
CTK Architecture
Gisele de Chabert
Brenda and Michael Drake
Harry and Michele Elam
Concepcion and Irwin Federman
Alberto Fernandez Randi and Bob Fisher
Debra and Victor Flores
Tad Freese and Brook Hartzell
Nate Gallon
Stanlee Gatti
Paul Haahr and Susan Karp
Gary Hall and Minjon LeNoir
Vani and Irv Henderson
Kim and Daniel Johnson
Wayne Jordan and Quinn Delaney
Tonia and Adam Karr
Coltrane Lord
Eric McDonnell and Hydra Mendoza
William and Shannon Nash
Oluwatoyin Odutola
Stuart Parmenter and Kayleen Arnke
Mauree and Mark Perry
Wayne Perry
Garrett and Amy Price
Gregory and Sonjia Redmond
L. Wade and Madalene Rose
Jessica Ross Jacqueline Sellers
Lynn and Sengal Selassie
Tiffany Stevenson
David and Roxann Stinfil
Jeremy Stone
Kelly Tanner Jones and Kevin Jones
Marta Thoma
Barry Williams and Lalita Tademy
Warner and Greta Wims
Monique Woodard
Ammanuel Zegeye
Mary Zlot
COLLECTOR
Anonymous
Derek Battiest
Richard Beavers
Fredia Brooks
Charles and Paula Collins
Fred Craves Family Foundation
Dawn Davis and Charles LaFollette
Drusie Davis
Akilah Ensley
Cheryl Finley
China Forbes
Michele France
Diane and Charles Frankel
Linda Harrison and Ellen Anderson
David and Charisse Howse
Kathryn and Marvin Larbi-Yeboa
Michael and Denise Lenoir
Vincent McCarley and Patrice Mallory-McCarley
Elaine Mellis
Perkins Coie LLP
Sherri Pittman
Debra Plousha-Moore
Sinclair Ridley-Thomas
Jessica Silverman
Shana Simmons and Christ Pope
Derek Smith
Farae Strickland
Pandora Thomas
Kara Kelly and Rahsaan Thompson
Keith and Rose White
Thurman and Eileen White
Jasper Williams
DOCENT
Jasmine Alves
Claude Ames
Anonymous
Brittany and Naseem Beauchman
Mary Lu Bilek
Heidy Braverman and David Skinner
Stephanie Carullo
Centene Charitable Foundation
Jamina Cole King
Karl and Wanda Cole-Frieman
Eric Coles
Jack Conte
Jacques Courseault
Molly Coye
Erin Dangerfield
Lauren Daniluk and William Tung
Darolyn Davis
Richard and Theresa Ellis
Matthew Forsythe
Charlie Goldberg
Thelma Golden
John Hampton
Anthony and
Angela Harris
Maia Harris
Lindsey Humphrey
Meryl and James Jackson
Jerry and Ruth Fund
Kitsaun King
Aja Joye Lathan
Kirk Law
William Lester
Aaron Levie
Loop Capital Markets
Cynthia Loukides
Diane Lowrey
Rosemary Mayhew
Jacob McCarty
Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman
Susan McGarry
Leah McGowen-Hare
Caille Millner
Cornelius Moore
Morby Family Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Fred and Liza Murrell
Catherine Muther
Diana Nelson and John Atwater
Glenda Newell-Harris
Ramekon O’Arwisters
Okta Inc
Naudia Prengel
Theresa Power
Mack Roach
Anita Roberts
Jennifer Roberts
David Ruff
Catherine Sanger
Francine Shakir
Alexandra Siegel
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Joy Simmons
Deborah and Joel Skidmore
Mike and Kelly Smith
Marc Spencer
Charles Stinson and Gary Weiss
Don Strand
Stephanie Syjuco
Cori Taylor
Renee Thierry Jones
Carolyn Tyler
Joely and Mark Urton
Visa
Deirdre Visser
Wayne Rowland and Vanessa Washington
Joan Webster and Giovana Giscome
Travis Weddington
Lauran and Jeffrey Weinmann
David Wilkins
Rachel Williams
Young Family Fund
IN-KIND
Adobe
Association of African American Vintners
Brown Estate
Cadogan Tate
Common Ground Spirits
DAOU Vineyards
Felix Lighting
Fort Point Brewery
Intercept Wines
Jillian Knox Designs
McCalman.Co
SaintFloraCo
The St. Regis Hotel
Suzy Drell Productions
ESTATE & TRUST GIFTS
The Estate of Frankie J. & Maxwell Gillette
COLLABORATORS & PARTNERS
4Color Books
African Book Club
Ariel Mei
The Battery
Bay Area Registry
Berkeley Repertory Theater
Black Freighter Press
The Bolinas Museum
City Arts & Lectures
Community Arts Stabilization Trust
CubaCaribe Festival of Dance & Music
Darrin Baldridge
Downtown First Thursdays
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco de Young & Legion of Honor
Frameline
Grand National / HiiWav
Hospitality for Humanity
Institute of Contemporary Art
Jonathan Carver Moore
Joyce Gordon Gallery
Kaiser Permanente
Karen Jenkins Johnson
Litquake
Lorraine Hansberry Theater
Mechanics’ Institute Library
Noise Pop Festival Public Profit
PUSHDANCE
Russell Gatewood
Ruth Asawa School for the Arts
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eric McDonnell
Chair
Peggy Woodford Forbes
Chair
Beryl Potter
Secretary
Senay Alkebu-Lan
SFMOMA
SFJAZZ
SF Travel
Stanford Institute for the Diversity in Arts
The St. Regis Hotel
Trina Robinson & Charles H. Lee (Space Residency)
World Channel
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Community Gardens
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Yerba BuenaPartnership
Youth Speaks
Tiffany M. Stevenson
Treasurer
Jill Cowan
Diane Frankel
Vimbayi Kajese
David Neequaye
Paul Williams Ammanuel Zegeye
Monetta White CEO & Executive Director
Sheeka Arbuthnot Chief Development Officer
Dariane Beamon Programs Manager, Learning and Family Engagement
Jason Blackwell Chief of Staff
Theresa Brockett Director of Development
Alicia Chow Visitor Experience Supervisor
Genesis A. Emery-Foley Chief Marketing Officer
Si Mon’ Emmett-Salah Senior Manager of Learning & Family Engagement
Michael Hannan Facilities Manager
Consuelo Jacobs Consultant
Keisha Jones Public Engagement & Interpretation Coordinator
Dorian Kasuba HR Consultant
Kitsaun King Development Manager
Key Jo Lee Chief of Curatorial Affairs & Public Programs
Eden Tolico Visitor Experience Supervisor STAFF
Paul Plale Brand Design Manager
Mary Powers Manager of Exhibitions and Registrar
Joan Rosenberg Grants & Strategic Initiatives Manager
Elyse Singleton Database and Operations Manager
Linda Spain de Bruin Chief Financial Officer
Maiyio Taylor Jackson Digital Marketing & Community Manager
Elizabeth Gessel Curator of Public & Academic Engagement
Gabriela Myers-Lipton Visitor Experience Ambassador
VISITOR EXPERIENCE AMBASSADORS
Loida Falcis
Javier Fuentes
Ellison Lee
TEACHING ARTISTS
Asual Aswad
Feyi Ajayi-Dopemu
Sheleia Brooks
DOCENTS
Gustavo Fierros
Lupe Martinez
Carlos Quinteros
Ali Scott
Grace Smith
Rafael Vazquez
Viviana Carlos
Amelian Hamilton
Aja Johnson
Jamiah King
Aambr Newsome
Ramona Soto
CREDITS
Installation view of Lorna Simpson, Blue Turned Temporal, 2019, in UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe, Museum of the African Diaspora. Photo: Zac Westbrook. (p. 0)
Portrait of Monetta White, 2025. Photo: Brandon Ruffin. (p. 1)
Monetta White at Afropolitan Ball. Photo: Drew Altizer Photography. (p. 4)
Belva Davis. Courtesy of Davis Family. (p. 5)
Belva Davis with Denise BradleyTyson, MoAD Gala, 2008. Drew Altizer Photography. (p. 6)
Installation view of UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe, Museum of the African Diaspora. Photo: Josef Jacques. (p. 7)
Installation view of Malene Barnett, Illusions of Softness, 2024, in Liberatory Living: Protective Interiors and Radical Black Joy, Museum of the African Diaspora. Photo: Cinque Mubarak. (p. 8)
Installation view, Love + Basketball: My Freedom Gotta Rim On It, featuring works by Ann Johnson. Photo: Josef Jacques. (p. 10)
Installation view featuring artwork by David Alabo. Photo: Zac Westbrook. (p. 11)
Museum of the African Diaspora 2024–2025 Emerging Artists Program cohort. Photo: Tinashe Wertz Chidarikire. Pictured left to right: Corinne Smith, Soleé Darrell, Zekarias Thompson, Mary Graham, Jessica Monette. (p. 14)
Installation view featuring artwork by Mary Graham. Photo: Tinashe Wertz Chidarikire. (p. 15)
Installation view, Soleé Darrell, Cosmic Ceremony, 2025. Photo: Josef Jacques. (p. 16)
Art Market Productions, SF Art Fair, 2025. Pictured left to right: Abram Jackson, Jonathan Carver Moore, Lava Thomas, George McCalman, Monetta White. Photo: Jessica Monroy. (p. 17)
Museum of the African Diaspora 20th Anniversary Celebration. Photo: Power Quevedo. (p. 19)
Installation view, Huey Newton, Black Panther Minister of Defense, in Liberatory Living: Protective Interiors and Radical Black Joy, Museum of the African Diaspora. Photo: Zac Westbrook. (p. 21)
Key Jo Lee (left) and Harmonia Rosales (right) in conversation, Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic book talk, presented by Museum of the African Diaspora and Litquake. Photo: Power Quevedo. (p. 22)
Si Mon’ Emmett-Salah, Senior Manager of Learning & Family Engagement, at Black Joy Parade, 2025. Photo: Demondre Ward. (p. 24)
Performance documentation of Irresistibly Alive, presented at Museum of the African Diaspora during Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week. Conceived by M. Carmen Lane and Sidra Bell; choreographed and performed with Sophia Halimah Parker; costumes by Mark Eric. Photo: Fox Nakai. (p. 25)
Panel discussion for Irresistibly Alive, featuring M. Carmen Lane and Sidra Bell. Photo: Fox Nakai. (p. 27)
Global Groove, presented by Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week. Photo: Chloe Jackman Photography. (p. 28)
Key Jo Lee (left) and Ashara Ekundayo (right), with Ayana V. Jackson (not pictured), in conversation during Nexus: SF/ Bay Area Black Art Week. Photo: Zabrina Deng. (p. 29)
Installation view, banner installation by Helina Metaferia. Photo: Zac Westbrook. (p. 31)
Chalk art activity at Museum of the African Diaspora. Courtesy of Museum of the African Diaspora. (p. 33)
Museum of the African Diaspora Teens Program. Photo: Tinashe Wertz Chidarikire. (pp. 36, 38)
Theresa Brockett, Director of Development, during Museum of the African Diaspora 20th Anniversary Celebration. Photo: Power Quevedo. (p. 39)
Mikael Owunna during the UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe opening reception, viewing artwork by Gustavo Nazareno. Photo: Chloe Jackman Photography. (p. 41)
Monetta White, CEO and Executive Director of Museum of the African Diaspora (second from left), and Eric McDonnell, Board Chair (fourth from left), during the UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe opening reception. Photo: Chloe Jackman Photography. (p. 42)
Installation view of Creation Story, Harmonia Rosales, 2021, in UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe, Museum of the African Diaspora. Photo: Zac Westbrook. (p. 53)
