55 Fellows Announced for
U.S. Regional Arts Organization-Supported
National Leaders of Color Fellowship
Unique Eight-Month Leadership Development
Experience Begins this Month
December 11, 2024 – Baltimore — Mid Atlantic Arts is thrilled to announce the 2024-25 Leaders of Color Fellowship awardees from the mid-Atlantic area, recognizing outstanding individuals who are shaping the future of the arts through their innovative leadership and vision. This Fellowship, administered by Creative West in collaboration with five other US Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs), seeks to empower and connect leaders of color across the nation. You can read more about the 55 National Leaders of Color Fellows at this link.
The Fellowship provides a unique platform for cohorts to engage in meaningful conversations and exchange ideas both nationally and regionally. Over the next six months, participants will collaborate in six facilitator-led sessions designed to enhance their leadership skills, alongside community-building sessions that foster collaboration and support among peers.
The Leaders of Color Fellowship is more than just an accolade — it is a commitment to nurturing the next generation of arts leaders who will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the arts community. Each awardee has demonstrated a profound ability to inspire change and contribute to their respective fields with creativity and resilience.
Juan Souki, Executive Director of Mid Atlantic Arts, said, “We are proud to support and celebrate these remarkable leaders. Their work in multiple disciplines reflects the many artistic communities in our region and the arts field. I look forward to meeting with the Mid Atlantic Arts regional cohort, and to share resources and knowledge through this fellowship.”
The Fellowship aims to cultivate connections that transcend regional boundaries, building a supportive network of leaders committed to advancing the cultural landscape of arts and culture.
The Mid Atlantic Arts’ regional Leaders of Cohort Fellows include:
- Celestina Billington, New York
- Zach Blackwood, Pennsylvania
- Lisa Brown, Maryland
- Anne Choi, New Jersey
- Maria Roberta Duarte Miranda, Puerto Rico
- Shawné Michaelain Holloway, Virginia
- Jamila Jones, West Virginia
- Paul Marengo, District of Columbia
- AliShah Watson, Delaware
Upon program completion, each fellow transitions to alumni status, and has the opportunity to collaborate with each RAO as advisors, funding panelists, and more. Click here to learn more about the 2024-2025 Mid Atlantic Fellows.
About Mid Atlantic Arts
Mid Atlantic Arts supports artists, presenters, and organizations through unique programming, grant support, partnerships, and information sharing. Created in 1979, Mid Atlantic Arts is aligned with the region’s state arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. We combine state and federal funding with private support from corporations, foundations, and individuals to nurture diverse artistic expression while connecting people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond. To learn more about Mid Atlantic Arts visit www.midatlanticarts.org.
About the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations
Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts, and Western States Arts Federation—are a collective of six nonprofit arts service organizations committed to strengthening America’s infrastructure by increasing access to creativity for all Americans. They serve the nation’s artists, arts and culture organizations, and creative communities with programs that reflect and celebrate the diversity of the field in which they work. They partner with the National Endowment for the Arts, state arts agencies, individuals, and other public and private funders to develop and deliver programs, services, and products that advance arts and creativity. Together, the USRAOs work to activate and operate national arts initiatives, encourage and support collaboration across regions, states, and communities, and maximize the coordination of public and private resources invested in arts programs. In Fiscal Year 2023, they invested over $18.4 million across the United States and Jurisdictions, through nearly 2,400 grants that reached more than 1,000 communities. For more information, visit usregionalarts.org.
Contacts:
Leah Horn (WESTAF), leah.horn@westaf.org, 720.664.2239
Mackenzie Kwok (Mid Atlantic Arts), mkwok@midatlanticarts.org, 410.539.6656 x123