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Samantha Ortega

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WESTAF Statement on Murder of Asian American Women and Others in Georgia

By WESTAF News
WESTAF stands with our colleagues, friends, associates, partners, and constituents in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, particularly Asian and Asian American women, who are facing escalating hatred, xenophobia, and violence in a climate of racial animus and scapegoating across the nation.  We express our condolences to the families of the eight people confirmed to have lost their lives and others who have been affected by the senseless acts of violence in Atlanta—Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and...
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WESTAF Now Newsletter | February 2021

By Newsletter
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY & INCLUSION            South Arts Emerging Leaders of Color Program Wraps Wednesday, December 9th saw the successful close of the first cohort of the South Arts Emerging Leaders of Color Program (ELC). This program was reimagined for online delivery by the faculty, Salvador Acevedo, Margie Johnson Reese, and WESTAF Inclusion & Equity Division staff members Madalena Salazar and David Holland, in partnership with the program manager, Ethan Messere of South Arts. In this revised program, we were able to add new elements to the program, like the online resource guide (designed by 2015 Colorado...
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David Holland

David Holland Assumes Expanded Role as Director of Impact and Public Policy

By Staff, WESTAF News
We are delighted to announce that David Holland, WESTAF’s director of public policy, will be assuming a more expansive role at WESTAF, under the newly revised title of director of impact and public policy. In addition to his current portfolio leading WESTAF’s Alliances, Advocacy and Public Policy (AAP) division and serving as an advisor to the Creative Vitality™ Suite team, he will also be responsible for the design, development, resourcing, implementation and maintenance of the complete WESTAF program portfolio, which includes both the AAP and Social Responsibility and Inclusion (SRI) divisions. These responsibilities include the leadership of new programs and...
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WESTAF Now Newsletter | December 2020

By Newsletter
INCLUSION & EQUITY                                           South Arts Emerging Leaders of Color Conference WESTAF is excited to announce a major milestone in our partnership with South Arts on their inaugural Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) program. WESTAF Manager of Social Equity and Inclusion Madalena Salazar, along with faculty members Salvador Acevedo and Margie Reese, led South Arts in building their ELC program online with a Southern focus. Participants were selected from approximately 100 applicants, and invitations were sent to 12 individuals from Alabama...
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US RAO

U.S. Regional Arts Organizations Congratulate President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris

By Advocacy, WESTAF News
November 10, 2020 The six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts, and WESTAF join Americans for the Arts in congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The RAOs look forward to working with the new administration to advance the essential role of the arts in our nation, to support the creative sector with additional investment to recover from COVID-19 and rebuild our economy, and to invest in the great work of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Regional Arts Organizations...
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Christian Gaines

WESTAF Executive Director Christian Gaines Elected to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies’ 2021 Board of Directors

By Staff, WESTAF News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leah Horn 303.629.1166 leah.horn@westaf.org Denver, CO, November 13, 2020—The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) is pleased to announce the election of Christian Gaines to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) board of directors. As a member of NASAA’s board of directors, Gaines will serve alongside a diverse and accomplished group of arts and cultural leaders from across the country. "We enthusiastically welcome Christian to the NASAA board," said NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux. "He brings a breadth of knowledge, a fierce commitment to serving the public, and genuine passion for the arts. We...
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