![](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ALAS-Logo_Assets_Blue-Background.png)
Background
Between 2011 and 2017, WESTAF’s annual Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar (ALAS) brought a group of arts leaders from the West to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and their staffs, engage in briefings regarding the status and future prospects for federal arts support, and to discuss with the WESTAF trustees ways to generate more state government support for the work of state arts agencies. As these conversations have continued to evolve, we continue to adapt ALAS to ensure relevancy and accessibility, including hosting the first virtual ALAS in 2021.
2022 Seminar Description
WESTAF’s 2022 ALAS expanded on 2021’s format and continued to grow its focus. The seminar featured a series of interactive discussions with speakers and field experts who shared their understanding of the current federal arts advocacy and cultural policy landscape, discussed Western regional policy trends, advised on effective messaging for arts and culture across the political spectrum, and shared successful approaches of other sectors in advocacy and lobbying.
Panelists
![Julie Baker A woman with brown hair, a gray blazer and a white shirt in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/JulieBakerPictureforSpeaker.jpeg)
Julie Baker
![Lauren Bogard A smiling blonde woman with a pink blazer standing in front of a pine tree](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LaurenBogardPictureforSpeaker.jpeg)
Lauren Bogard
![Renée Bovée A smiling brown hair woman with glasses wearing a dark blue blazer in front of a black background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-8.28.53-AM.png)
Renée Bovée
![Michael Faison A man with white hair and glasses in a suit and tie in front of a red and black background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MichaelFaisonPictureforSpeaker.png)
Michael Faison
![Althea Erickson Shoulder length brown haired woman with glasses and a blue shirt in front of a paneled background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AltheaEricksonPictureforSpeaker.jpeg)
Althea Erickson
![Benjamin Brown Black and white image of a man wearing a suit and tie in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ben-Brown-headshot.jpeg)
Benjamin Brown
![Caroline Bruckner Smiling dark haired woman with earrings and a paisley printed top](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CarolineBrucknerPictureforSpeaker.jpeg)
Caroline Bruckner
![Manny Cawaling Manny Cawaling](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MannyCawalingPictureforSpeaker-scaled.jpg)
Manny Cawaling
![Cynthia Chen Cynthia Chen](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Cynthia-Chen.jpeg)
Cynthia Chen
![Lauren Cloward Smiling brunette woman with a dark green shirt in front of a gray background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/laurencloward.jpeg)
Lauren Cloward
![Karmen Rossi Karmen Rossi](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WCACOfficial28-scaled.jpg)
Karmen Rossi
![Leah Frelinghuysen A woman with long dark hair with a printed blouse](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LeahFrelinghuysenPictureforSpeaker-scaled.jpeg)
Leah Frelinghuysen
![Eric Friedenwald-Fishman A man with short dark hair and facial hair with glasses and a blue button up top in front of a blurred white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/EricFriedenwald-FishmanPictureforSpeaker.jpg)
Eric Friedenwald-Fishman
![Adrian Haro A black and white image of a man with a dark button up shirt and a light colored blazer](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-05-19-at-11.54.07-AM.png)
Adrian Haro
![David Holland David Holland in a dark suit in front of a gray background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-05-19-at-11.39.42-AM.png)
David Holland
![Renée Johnson Renée Johnson with red glasses](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ReneeJohnson1-400w.webp)
Renée Johnson
![Jen Cole Jennifer Cole](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/JenniferColePictureforSpeaker.png)
Jen Cole
![Candace Kita A woman with shoulder length dark hair and a black dress flexing her arm in an outdoor setting](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CandaceKitaPictureforSpeaker.jpg)
Candace Kita
![Najean Lee Woman with long dark hair in a fuschia blouse and dark blazer in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/NajeanLeePictureforSpeaker.jpg)
Najean Lee
![Wendy Levy Closeup of a woman with short light brown and gray hair and large hoop earrings in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-05-19-at-12.05.30-PM.png)
Wendy Levy
![Jen Cole Jennifer Cole](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/JenniferColePictureforSpeaker.png)
Jen Cole
![Patrick McWhorter A man with short brown hair and a gray beard with glasses and a light blue button up top](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/PatrickMcWhortorPictureforSpeaker.jpeg)
Patrick McWhorter
![Dr. Michelle Ramos A woman with short, curly hair in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MichelleRamosPictureforSpeaker.jpeg)
Dr. Michelle Ramos
![Solana Rice A woman with short black hair in a jean jacket and light shirt in front of a colorful background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SolanaRicePictureforSpeaker-scaled.jpg)
Solana Rice
![Tony Shivers A man with short hair in a black blazer, white shirt and red tie in front of a brown background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TonyShiversHeadshot1130x162.jpeg)
Tony Shivers
![Liora Sponko A woman with shoulder length brown hair in a white cardigan and black top in front of a blue background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LioraSponkoPictureforSpeaker-scaled.jpeg)
Liora Sponko
![Ryan Stubbs A man with short brown hair, dark glasses and a black shirt in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RyanStubbsPictureforSpeaker.png)
Ryan Stubbs
![Aisa Villarosa Woman with long dark hair and a black blouse in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AisaVillarosaPictureforSpeaker.jpg)
Aisa Villarosa
![Tim Wilson A man with a brown blazer and blue shirt with thin framed glasses](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TimothyWilsonPictureforSpeaker.jpg)
Tim Wilson
![Crystal Young A woman with short hair, bright red glasses, a bright floral blazer with a white dress in front of a white background](https://www.westaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CrystalYoung.jpeg)
Crystal Young
Briefs (coming soon!)
Event Organizers
- David Holland, deputy director, WESTAF Convenings Team Member and Policy Cohort Advisor
- Cynthia Chen, manager of public policy and advocacy, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
- Moana Palelei HoChing, senior policy analyst, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
- Leah Horn, director of marketing and communications, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
- Samantha Ortega, marketing coordinator, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
- Natalie Scherlong, communications coordinator, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
- Rebecca Brown, financial reporting manager, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
- Justine Chapel, CaFÉ communications and support coordinator, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
- Cameron Green, executive coordinator, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
- Ashanti McGee, ZAPP® operations coordinator, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
- Lauren Wilson, financial processes manager, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member