Program | Cultural Dynamics

co-creating a vision for philadelphia featuring maria rosario jackson, phd chair, national endowment for the arts

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024

schedule 8:30 AM Registration and Light Breakfast Opens 9:30 AM Welcome Remarks Patricia Wilson Aden, President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Valerie V. Gay, Chief Cultural Officer, City of Philadelphia and Executive Director of Creative Philadelphia Anne Ishii, Program Director, United States Artists Shawn McCaney, Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation Denis O’Brien, Interim President of Drexel University Laurie Zierer, Executive Director of PA Humanities 10:30 AM Panel I: The Role of Arts & Culture in Building a Thriving Philadelphia 11:30 AM Keynote Address from Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts followed by a Q&A with Jason Schupbach, Dean, Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design 12:00 PM Lunch 1:00 PM Panel II: Arts, Culture, and Community Power-Building 2:00 PM Panel III: Creative & Cultural Pathways to Healthier & Greener Communities 3:30 PM Closing Remarks

speakers MARIA ROSARIO JACKSON, PHD | Chair, National Endowment for the Arts In January 2022, Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD became the 13th chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Her appointment by President Biden is historic as she is the agency’s first African American and first Mexican American woman to serve as NEA Chair. Jackson’s career has focused on understanding and elevating arts, culture, and design as crucial elements of healthy and equitable communities. An urban planner, researcher, and academic, Chair Jackson is a tenured professor on leave from Arizona State University, where she led the Studio for Creativity, Place and Equitable Communities. For almost ten years, she served as a senior advisor on arts and culture and strategic learning, research, and evaluation at the Kresge Foundation and has advised other foundations.

For 18 years, Chair Jackson worked at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC, where she was the founding director of the Culture, Creativity and Communities Program.

She has served on numerous boards on national and local nonprofit organizations.

PATRICIA WILSON ADEN | President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Patricia Wilson Aden is President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, which leads, strengthens and amplifies the voices of 400+ member organizations that make up the region’s cultural community. Aden is an unwavering advocate for the arts and culture sector with decades of experience leading non-profit and cultural institutions, most recently as President of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee and as President & CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

Aden has also served in executive roles for the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Aden currently serves on the board of PA Humanities and is Vice Chair of the Friends of Cooch’s Bridge in Newark, Delaware. She was selected to serve as a member of the National Museum of African American Music’s Music Industry Relations Council. She has also served on the Smithsonian Affiliate Advisory Council and has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and other national and state level granting agencies. Aden holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Spelman College and a master’s in historic preservation from Cornell University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Davis & Elkins College.

VALERIE V. GAY | Chief Cultural Officer, City of Philadelphia and Executive Director of Creative Philadelphia Valerie V. Gay (Val Gay®) is a Creative, Certified Financial Planner, non-profit administrator, recording and performing artist and thought leader. While a classically trained soprano, Val is an active performer across several genres, having widely performed, including a solo performance at Carnegie Hall and a feature on NPR Music.

Val was recently appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia as executive director of Creative Philadelphia (formerly the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy), and the first executive director of the office to serve in the Mayor’s Cabinet in Philadelphia. In 2019, Val received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from St. Joseph’s University and has earned a Professional Studies Certificate and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of the Arts and completed degree course work at Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

speakers ANNE ISHII | Program Director, United States Artists (emcee) Anne Ishii is the program director at United States Artists, and previously the executive director of Asian Arts Initiative. She is Co-Chair of the Board of the Asian American Writers Workshop, and volunteers service to the field of arts and culture as a writer and musician herself. Anne is an editor and translator by trade, with a background in Japanese letters. Her work hinges on issues relating to gender and sexuality. In 2013 she cofounded MASSIVE GOODS: a lifestyle brand and arts agency representing queer and feminist artists from Japan. MASSIVE has produced multiple volumes of graphic novels and a line of clothing and accessories. She has been published in BUST, Nylon, Slate, Publishers Weekly, the Village Voice, the Philadelphia Inquirer and many other publications. She has translated and rewritten over twenty books.

SHAWN MCCANEY | Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation Shawn brings more than 10 years of leadership experience at the Foundation to his role as Executive Director.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, he was the founding program director for the Creative Communities program and managed National Initiatives for the Foundation, seeking to expand philanthropy in the region and share the Foundation’s learnings with others focused on similar issues nationwide. Recently, Shawn oversaw the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy revision process, which is conducted every 10 years. This effort resulted in the adoption of a new mission statement and grantmaking values and principles, the establishment of expanded and new grantmaking priorities, and key changes to the Foundation’s application process to increase its accessibility and transparency. The strategy revision was informed by an extensive stakeholder engagement effort that included nearly 400 conversations with local stakeholders and community members. Shawn received his graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree from Temple University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, an International Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, and is a licensed Professional Planner in the State of New Jersey. Shawn serves on the board of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation and is chairman of the Haddonfield Borough Planning Board.

DENIS O’BRIEN | Interim President of Drexel University Interim President Denis O’Brien leads Drexel during a time of transition, as the University undergoes a leadership change and academic transformation, while ensuring student, faculty, and professional staff success in an everevolving era. O’Brien, a 1987 MBA graduate of Drexel’s LeBow College of Business, and a longtime member of Drexel’s Board of Trustees, previously served as senior executive vice president of Exelon and CEO of Exelon Utilities, where he led the nation’s largest family of electric and natural gas distribution companies. Prior, he was the president and CEO of PECO Energy, where he began his career as a field engineer. O’Brien, a lifelong Philadelphian, has served on numerous boards, including tenures as the chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable. He also served as a director at the Franklin Institute. He currently serves on the board of Independence Health Group. He has been named Drexel’s 2009 Business Leader of the Year and elected to the Drexel 100, which recognizes the University’s top graduates. In 2019, O’Brien was the recipient of the William Penn Award, the highest honor presented to a business or civic leader in Greater Philadelphia.

speakers JASON SCHUPBACH | Dean of the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University Jason Schupbach is the Dean of the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. He was formerly the Director of the Design School at Arizona State University, the largest and most comprehensive design school in the United States. In this position, he started the ambitious ReDesign.School project to reinvent design education for the 21st century, and is a key advisor to ASU on diverse projects such as the Center for Creativity and place, Roden Crater, the Creative Futures Lab, and ASU’s Los Angeles downtown home. Previous to this position he was Director of Design and Creative Placemaking Programs for the National Endowment for the Arts, where he oversaw all design and creative placemaking grantmaking and partnerships, including Our Town and Design Art Works grants, the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design, and the NEA’s Federal agency collaborations. Previously, Jason served Governor Patrick of Massachusetts as the Creative Economy Director, tasked with growing creative and tech businesses in the state. He formerly was the Director of ArtistLink, a Ford Foundation funded initiative to stabilize and revitalize communities through the creation of affordable space and innovative environments for creatives. He has also worked for the Mayor of Chicago and New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. He has written extensively on the role of arts and design in making better communities, and his writing has been featured as a Best Idea of the Day by the Aspen Institute.

LAURIE ZIERER | Executive Director of PA Humanities As executive director of PA Humanities, Laurie Zierer strategically focuses on redefining the humanities to build community, foster well being, and make meaningful change in Pennsylvania with ground-breaking programs like Chester Made, PA Heart & Soul, and Teen Reading Lounge.

She is a vocal advocate for the cultural sector at the state and national levels, informed by participatory research projects like Humanities in Action: A National Perspective, the PA Humanities Discovery Project and PA CultureCheck.

Believing strongly in putting research into action and using the humanities as a catalyst for transformation, Zierer has spearheaded innovative, grantmaking programs like Wingspan, which supports BIPOC-led and rural organizations doing community-based humanities work and cultivating space for creativity and connection.

Laurie also has recently published work on centering the human in graduate education and emergent strategies in philanthropy. She is a former high school English teacher, and she holds a B.A. in English from Temple University and an M.A. in Rhetoric from Penn State.

performers NINA ELIZABETH LYRISPECT BALL Lyrispect, a Baltimore-born and raised, Philadelphiabased poet, author, producer, and Creative, has performed worldwide, from Goa India, to the British Virgin Islands, and has collaborated with cultural institutions across the U.S. and Philadelphia. She is an advocate and amplifier of marginalized communities, who believes in bringing to life the nuances and multidimensionality therein She has served as moderator, panelist, and presenter for the Fulbright Scholars, New York University, The National Archives, and “The Afterlives of Liberation” series at Rutgers New Brunswick in 2024. As the Deputy Director of the Painted Bride, Nina has over 25 years of experience as a cultural curator, educator, writer, producer, and outspoken advocate for all marginalized communities. An award-winning lyricist and voiceover artist with a strong background, nationally and locally, in creative strategy and administration, Nina artfully stands at the intersection of many worlds. Her work empowers, challenges, and inspires through the compelling marriage of lived experience and multiple art forms. Paired with a strong work ethic and unwavering integrity, Nina’s outgoing and resourceful nature make her a marked professional and creative mind from vision to execution.

V. SHAYNE FREDERICK V. Shayne Frederick, vocalist, pianist, composer, curator, and educator, has captivated audiences for 20 years.

DownBeat called him “soulful,” All About Jazz said he’s “a shining light,” and the Philadelphia Inquirer hails his “silken baritone and elegant charm.” He’s electrified TEDx, NPR, innumerable international stages, and global airwaves.

Outside of serial residencies at Philadelphia Museum of Art, SOUTH Jazz Kitchen, and the Four Seasons’ JG Skyhigh, Shayne serves as pianist, composer, and vocalist for former Poet Laureate’s band Yolanda Wisher and The Afroeaters, and tours as narrator/vocalist with Ruth Naomi Floyd’s Frederick Douglass Jazz Works. Shayne’s voice is also featured on recordings on Ropeadope Records and Outside In Music, and his compositions have been featured in films and commercials. A 2021 Pew Artist Fellowship nominee, V. Shayne recently completed a term as a Board Governor of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy, and a stint on faculty at the storied University of the Arts before his recent appointment to Temple University. Shayne also is a Curatorial Collaborator for the United States Semiquincentennial celebration in Philadelphia. He will release his sixth recording, Treasures, in early 2025.

Cultural Dynamics co-creating a vision for philadelphia

panel I THE ROLE OF ARTS & CULTURE IN BUILDING A THRIVING PHILADELPHIA

Join leaders in business, research, and arts and culture as they explore the pivotal contribution of the creative sector in shaping thriving communities in Philadelphia and across the country. Learn how innovative cultural initiatives drive positive change, foster collaboration across sectors, and build a more resilient, thriving Philadelphia.

Moderated by national cultural thought leader Jamie Bennett, the conversation will delve into the multifaceted impacts of the creative and cultural sectors on city development, social cohesion, and economic prosperity.

PANELISTS PREMA KATARI GUPTA | President & CEO, Center City District Prema Katari Gupta is the president and CEO of the Center City District (CCD) and executive director of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC), overseeing all aspects of CCD’s planning, strategy, operations and economic development efforts. She has wide-ranging experience in economic development, public-private real estate development and place-making with past roles at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, PIDC and University City District. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s national council on public-private partnerships, serves on the board of the Fairmount Park Conservancy and is a trustee of The Philadelphia Award. She received a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College, a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design and a certificate in real estate development from The Wharton School.

ALBA MARTINEZ | Director of Commerce, City of Philadelphia Alba Martinez is the Director of Commerce for the City of Philadelphia, appointed by Mayor Cherelle Parker in January 2024. A senior leader with a distinguished career across business, government, nonprofit, and cultural sectors, she is committed to enhancing community well-being through education, cross-sector partnerships, and inclusive economic opportunities.

As Commerce Director, Martinez developed the Grow Philly Strategic Roadmap, aimed at streamlining business processes, driving inclusive growth, revitalizing commercial corridors, and positioning Philadelphia as a global business hub with a skilled, performance-driven workforce. Martinez’s corporate career includes over a decade as a senior executive at Vanguard.

As Head of Retail Client Services, she managed Vanguard’s largest client group, using data analytics to improve investor experiences and drive growth.

As Head of Global Talent Acquisition, she implemented diversity-focused recruitment strategies. A social entrepreneur, Martinez co-founded Magnolia Impact Solutions, which developed a financial health measurement tool for workforce organizations and funders. She also founded Street Knowledge, a lifelong learning initiative connecting disadvantaged Philadelphians to career paths and financial mobility. Her nonprofit and government work includes leading the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, where she introduced a results-driven funding model, and as Philadelphia’s Commissioner of Human Services, where she reduced foster care placements by 50%.

At Congreso de Latinos Unidos, she launched Pennsylvania’s first Latina domestic violence program and a carpenters union training initiative. In 2022, Martinez produced La Guagua 47, a short film celebrating Philadelphia’s Latinidad, exploring identity, culture, and community through the Latino experience. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Martinez holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and has completed executive programs at Wharton and Harvard Business School. She serves on several boards, including UnidosUS, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, and Philadelphia Works. Martinez resides in Fitler Square with her spouse, Roberta Trombetta, a lawyer and child welfare advocate.

TAYYIB SMITH | Founding Partner and Chief Strategist, The Growth Collective / 7th Ward Tribute Tayyib Smith is a dynamic entrepreneur working at the intersections of art, real estate, and economic vitality. As founding partner of The Growth Collective³, he focuses on breaking down systemic barriers in communities of color by providing essential advocacy, resources and capital. In real estate, his leadership at Smith & Roller Holdings promotes inclusive, holistic urban development. Through projects like Legacy Reclaimed - the 7th Ward Tribute and A Dream Deferred PHL, Smith highlights the power of cultural heritage in revitalizing neighborhoods. His board roles with organizations such as Kensington Corridor Trust, Prizm Art Fair, Black Star Projects further demonstrate his commitment to fostering economic vitality through the arts.

ISAIAH THOMAS | Councilmember At-Large, City of Philadelphia Majority Whip Council Member Thomas, a 3rd generation Philadelphian from Northwest Philadelphia, has dedicated his life to education, opportunity, and teamwork. His passion for basketball and commitment to his city drive his work on City Council, where he has secured millions for youth programs and introduced important legislation like Driving Equality, the Black Workers Matter package, and spearheaded the creation of the Illuminate the Arts Grants. Thomas actively supports his community as a high school basketball coach, President of the Coaches Association, and through his nonprofit, The Thomas and Woods Foundation, which provides free summer programming for youth. A proud graduate of Philadelphia public schools, he holds a BA from Penn State Abington and a master’s in education from Lincoln University.

Thomas lives in Oak Lane with his wife Klissa and their three children: Isaiah Jr., Isaac, and newborn Alorianna.

LAURIE ZIERER | Executive Director, PA Humanities As executive director of PA Humanities, Laurie Zierer strategically focuses on redefining the humanities to build community, foster well being, and make meaningful change in Pennsylvania with ground-breaking programs like Chester Made, PA Heart & Soul, and Teen Reading Lounge. She is a vocal advocate for the cultural sector at the state and national levels, informed by participatory research projects like Humanities in Action: A National Perspective, the PA Humanities Discovery Project and PA CultureCheck.

Believing strongly in putting research into action and using the humanities as a catalyst for transformation, Zierer has spearheaded innovative, grantmaking programs like Wingspan, which supports BIPOC-led and rural organizations doing community-based humanities work and cultivating space for creativity and connection. Laurie also has recently published work on centering the human in graduate education and emergent strategies in philanthropy. She is a former high school English teacher, and she holds a B.A. in English from Temple University and an M.A. in Rhetoric from Penn State.

Moderator: JAMIE BENNETT | Interim Co-CEO, Americans for the Arts Jamie Bennett [he/him] is the interim co-CEO of Americans for the Arts, working alongside Suzy Delvalle. Through a partnership with Lord Cultural Resources, Jamie consults with nonprofits, philanthropy, and governments across rural, suburban, Tribal, and urban geographies. Recent clients include the American Museum of Natural History, Barr Foundation The BIG We, Design Studio for Social Intervention, Greater Columbus Arts Council, MacArthur Foundation, Museum Trustee Association, National Endowment for the Arts, PolicyLink, One Beat, Starfish, and Walk with Amal.

Cultural Dynamics co-creating a vision for philadelphia

panel II ARTS, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY POWER-BUILDING

Arts, Culture, and Community Power Building will illuminate how communities can harness their unique cultural heritage to shape and celebrate their identities and redefine their futures. National models confirm that enduring, equitable change can be achieved when historically marginalized communities are supported to build and wield their power to shape, govern, and protect their futures. Be part of a dynamic conversation with grassroots and cultural leaders mobilizing art and culture to ensure that those most impacted by long-standing inequities are at the forefront of building a just, equitable and, economically viable future.

PANELISTS JAMIE BRUNSON | Executive Director, First Person Arts Jamie J, Executive Director of First Person Arts, is an artist/activist using storytelling to build community and catalyze dialogue around important issues, especially those issues impacting the unheard. Brunson was named a 2022 NEA/ Delaware Division of the Arts Established Artist Fellow in Literature: Playwriting. Her creative body of work includes produced plays, published poetry and stories for the stage. She has brought storytelling to audiences across multiple platforms for over a decade, including: executive producer of two documentary films, producer of 12 annual First Person Arts Festivals of memoir and documentary art, host of WHYY’s Philadelphia Revealed Podcast (July 2024); WHYY’s Commonspace Radio Hour and Podcast series (2018), and COVID Stories – A Digital Memoir (2020). She is a Creator of FPA’s Applied Storytelling division where storytelling activities are customized to build communities. She serves as board, committee or steering committee member of: Strategic Planning Committee of Philadelphia’s Dept. of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disabilities Services Engaging Males of Color Initiative; Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Avenue of the Arts, ArtPhilly and Stories to Grow By. She has lectured at Bryn Mawr College, University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. She is currently working on a memoir and solo show. Brunson holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and BA from Temple University.

VIVIAN CHANG | Executive Director, Asian Americans United Vivian Chang (she/her/hers) is the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She is the Executive Director of Asian Americans United where she organizes multiracial coalitions to oppose a billionaire-backed arena threatening Chinatown, and stewards historic programs on youth leadership development and cultural preservation.

She previously worked as a Civic Engagement & Racial Justice Director on voting, redistricting, immigration advocacy, political engagement, and racial justice. Vivian has led successful AAPI voter outreach campaigns in Nevada, Georgia, and virtually to support progressive candidates at the federal level. She previously worked in federal science policy, and worked for two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Philadelphia, Pa., and Moline, Ill. She is dedicated to advancing social and economic justice informed by the collective power of communities. She holds an MPA from Princeton University and a B.S. in Biological Physics and B.A. in Hispanic Studies from Carnegie Mellon University. Vivian lives in North Chinatown, Philadelphia, with her partner.

ASALI DEVAN ECCLESIASTES | Executive Director, Ashé Cultural Center in New Orleans Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes is an accomplished program director, project manager, event producer, cultural programmer, educator, author, and community servant. She continually seeks opportunities to forward her mission of creating a platform for societal change through art and her vision of social justice for all humanity. A two-time TED presenter, DeVan Ecclesiastes is a natural leader whose skills include expertise in program and project development, urban planning and community engagement, fund development and budget management, research and presentation, excellence in organization and motivation, high proficiency in design and desktop publishing, and exceptional written and oral communication.

DAVE KYU | Interim Executive Director, Asian Arts Initiative Dave Kyu is the Interim Executive Director at Asian Arts Initiative. An artist and a writer, Dave began working with Asian Arts Initiative as an artist in its inaugural Social Practice Lab cohort in 2011. Dave has also led the organization through its first community planning process, creating People: Power: Place: a cultural plan for Chinatown North/Callowhill. In his current role, Dave oversees the strategy and implementation of its public programs, and continues to advocate for Chinatown and Chinatown North. He is the coeditor of Campfire Stories: Volumes I & II. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dave is a graduate of the Tyler School of Art, and received a Certificate in Principles of Innovation from the Academy of Municipal Innovation at Philadelphia University. Dave has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Dave is a co-founder of Practice Gallery, and member of the Philadelphia Assembly.

Moderator: AVIVA KAPUST | Co-Director, The Culture and Community Power Fund Aviva Kapust is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader with nearly two decades of experience working at the intersection of art, culture, and equitable community development. She currently serves as Co-Director of the Culture & Community Power Fund (C&CPF), overseeing a $13 million funders’ collaborative and lab that centers culture as a force for communityled social change. Since 2022, C&CPF has invested $8.5 million across six communities—in Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Memphis, New Orleans, and Detroit—to build the capacities and infrastructure needed to envision, enact, and safeguard their own futures. Alongside these place-based investments, C&CPF elevates promising practices nationally and cultivates a cross-sector community of practice to fortify this work from the ground up. Previously, Aviva served as Executive Director of The Village of Arts and Humanities in Philadelphia, where she revitalized the 37-year-old organization, transforming it into a thriving, current model for arts-driven social change. Over her 13year tenure, the organization led initiatives that engaged thousands of youth and returning citizens in creative workforce development and social justice advocacy. She secured over $10 million in flexible capital to revitalize and expand the organization’s iconic campus and to support key neighborhood groups and initiatives. Earlier in her career, Aviva established a foundation in strategic communications as a creative director at prominent advertising firms in New York and San Francisco, an expertise she now brings to her roles as a leader, consultant, and advisor in the nonprofit sector. Aviva is a Neubauer Civic Scholar at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she will complete her MBA in 2024, and a Field Catalyst Fellow with the Center for Community Investment. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2021 Leadership Award from the Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia, recognition from Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and support from Mackenzie Scott. She lives in Philadelphia with her partner, Felix, and daughter, Zena.

Cultural Dynamics co-creating a vision for philadelphia

panel III CREATIVE & CULTURAL PATHWAYS TO HEALTHIER & GREENER COMMUNITIES Unlock the transformative potential of arts and culture in creating healthier, greener communities. The Creative & Cultural Pathways to Healthier & Greener Communities panel will investigate how arts and culture interventions are powerful agents of creative collaboration and community well-being. Hear from local and national practitioners about impactful artistic and cultural activities that create essential spaces for collective recovery, empowering people to process trauma, reconnect with nature, and build a stronger, more resilient social fabric. From the groundbreaking initiatives of the CultureRX pilot to the healing spaces at Bartram’s Garden, and the empowering storefronts of the Mural Arts’ Porch Light program, this panel will showcase how arts and culture initiatives are not just uplifting—they are essential tools for creating healthier places for Philadelphians to live and thrive.

PANELISTS NADIA MALIK | Porch Light Program Director, Mural Arts Philadelphia Nadia Malik is the director of the Porch Light Program, a partnership with the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, at Mural Arts Philadelphia. She completed masters degrees in Social Work and Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

Previously, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Chicago and in the development and communications departments of several nonprofits. The Porch Light Program offers Nadia an opportunity to combine her love of art and writing with her passion for community work, particularly in the arena of mental health. The department’s work focuses on refugee and immigrant communities, unhoused participants, those affected by substance use and others impacted by trauma. Porch Light offers participants opportunities to use artistic outlets to find creative solutions to systemic concerns. Through Mural Arts, Nadia has also had an opportunity to speak about the innovative programs and partnerships in Porch Light at SXSW and in a TedX talk.

MAITREYI ROY | Executive Director, Bartram’s Garden Maitreyi Roy serves as Executive Director for Bartram’s Garden, home of famed 18th-century botanist John Bartram (1699–1777). Bartram’s Garden is a legendary landscape that inspires audiences of all ages to care for the natural world. Before joining Bartram’s Garden in 2012, Maitreyi served as senior vice president for programs at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), overseeing its nationally recognized urban greening program, Philadelphia Green; its education programs; and publications. She provided leadership and oversight for program direction, funding strategies, and partnership and staff development. Maitreyi has also served as a landscape architect with the Boston Parks & Recreation Department to plan and implement a citywide capital investment initiative focusing on revitalizing and restoring neighborhood parks across the city. As a 2007 Eisenhower Fellow, Maitreyi traveled to urban centers in Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, and Ireland to study best practices in urban open space policies, planning standards, and landscape design. She examined sustainable development strategies, successful open space revitalization models, and public/private partnerships that support open space infrastructure. Trained as an architect in India, Maitreyi’s interest in open space issues took her to the School of Design at Harvard University where she earned a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 1988. As a landscape architect, Maitreyi focused on community-based design and has been involved in the creation and preservation of green space throughout her career.

SUSAN SLAWSON | Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Susan Slawson served as a Lieutenant of the Philadelphia Police Department, Management Consultant, and Executive Coach. Susan’s yearning for social justice led her to join the Philadelphia Police Department, where she rose through the ranks to attain the position of Lieutenant. On the force, Susan’s community involvement positioned her to be selected as a representative for the department in the public affairs division. Because she yearned for a comprehensive, futuristic view of law enforcement and community engagement, Susan accepted an assignment as the Commanding Officer of the Police Athletic League.

CLYDE VALENTÍN | Multidisciplinary Artist, Educator and Cultural Producer With a passion for exploring the intersections of art, technology and social justice, Valentín has created numerous exhibitions and programs that challenge traditional boundaries. As the former Executive Director of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Valentín has been instrumental in fostering community engagement and promoting diverse voices in the art world. With a commitment to empowering marginalized communities, Valentín’s work continues to inspire and provoke meaningful conversations.

Moderator: MATT RADER | President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society As the 37th President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (aka PHS), Matt works to unlock the super-power embedded in each of us to use gardening to build a healthier, happier world. PHS’s mission of using horticulture to advance the health and well-being of Greater Philadelphia is powered by thousands of members, volunteers, and partners who invest their time, money, and passion. PHS works on the ground in 250 city and suburban neighborhoods, offers 20 public gardens and landscapes, produces the Philadelphia Flower Show, the country’s largest horticultural event, and offers education, community, and an award-winning magazine for plant lovers.

Matt received his Bachelor’s in Architectural History from the University of Virginia, a Master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate in Non-Profit Executive Leadership from Bryn Mawr College. He is a 2020 Eisenhower Fellow and his professional experiences include the Fairmount Park Commission, Urban Land Institute, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and McKinsey and Company. He lives in Center City Philadelphia with his partner, Michael Smith, a conductor and organist.

CREATIVE & CULTURAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS And this is just the beginning...

The Cultural Dynamics convening is just the beginning of a city-wide conversation about how our diverse arts, culture, and heritage communities are and can support thriving neighborhoods across the City.

We invite you to join the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance in January and February 2025 for a series of Creative & Cultural Community Conversations to continue this important dialogue. Sign-up here and we will send you more details before the new year!

Cultural Dynamics is made possible by the generous support of The Culture & Community Power Fund, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the William Penn Foundation

Special thanks to our partners, Pennsylvania Humanities and Creative Philadelphia

Thank you to our media partners, WHYY and The Philadelphia Citizen

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Special thanks to the Cultural Dynamics Advisory Committee: Roberto Bedoya Jane Golden Nataki Garrett

Val Gay Erin Harkey Anne Ishii

Aviva Kapust Monica C. Montgomery Susan Nelson

Jason Schupbach Jennifer Turnball Laurie Zierer

Cultural Dynamics was produced with support from Philly Leadership Lab and Witty Gritty