Program Goals
Since 2010, WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Color program has promoted diverse, representative leadership and equity in the arts by:
- Building a cohort of cultural leaders of color in the western United States (and now the southern region, in partnership with South Arts) who are committed to the advancement of the arts;
- Engaging a diverse group of emerging leaders in coursework and activities designed to strengthen competencies and prepare participants for leadership positions in the field;
- Providing opportunities for promising arts professionals to establish networks that support their careers;
- Advocating for the cultural interests of the communities they represent and serve; and
- Deepening participants’ understanding of the arts in the United States and how public support sustains the vibrancy of the sector.
Program Participants
Participants are selected by a review panel comprised of program staff, alumni, and seasoned leaders of color from the field and are considered on the following criteria:
- Professionals who are generally under the age of 35.
- Ten years or less of experience working in the arts.
- Current resident of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.
- Self-identify as a person of color.
- Arts administrator or significantly arts-interested community member, such as a volunteer, public official, and/or artist with a strong interest in issues of cultural policy and arts administration. (The program is not designed to serve individual artists.)
- Individuals who have not previously had an opportunity to participate in high quality professional development sessions.
Program Impact
In 2019, WESTAF commissioned an independent evaluation of the ELC program to assess whether we were meeting our stated program goals effectively. The evaluation provided alumni with an opportunity to reflect on the experience and any influence it may have had on various aspects of their personal and professional lives. Key findings included:
- The program is well regarded by alumni and others in the field.
- The program achieves its goals to develop leaders of color committed to the arts.
- There is strong communication among participants and with WESTAF.
- The program influences both the personal and professional lives of participants.
- As a result of the program, participants feel empowered and more capable of influencing the arts field.
- A strong majority of participants believe that the program positively affects their understanding of and capability to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Leaders of Color Network
In 2020, a Leaders of Color advisory committee of ELC alumni began holding regular conversations about the current needs of the network as well as ongoing collaboration with each other and WESTAF to further support their professional objectives.
Below is a listing of alumni of WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Color Program by year. The state listed is where they resided at the time of participation. (In 2016 and 2019, WESTAF convened alumni and did not recruit new cohorts in those years.)
2018
Elisa Radcliffe | Arizona
Antoine Girard | California
Laili Gohartaj | California
Nathalie Sánchez | California
Andre Carbonell | Colorado
Victoria Gonzalez | Colorado
Tara Gumapac | Hawai’i
Annette Luján | New Mexico
Jennifer Kleven | Nevada
Humberto Márquez Mendez | Oregon
Renato Olmedo-González | Utah
Moana Palelei HoChing | Utah
Rezina Habtemariam | Washington
2017
Reyna Montoya | Arizona
Katherin Canton | California
Kai Monet | California
Mariana Moscoso | California
D’Anté McNeal | Colorado
Eric Chang | Hawai’i
Sandra Margarita Ward | Nevada
Andrew Akufo | New Mexico
Ashley Stull Meyers | Oregon
Cynthia Chen | Utah
Julz Ignacio | Washington
Hunter Old Elk | Wyoming
Leah Shlachter | Wyoming
2015
Christy NaMee Eriksen | Alaska
Ashley Hare | Arizona
Lauren Benetua | California
Jessica Ceballos y Campbell | California
Janae De La Virgen | Colorado
Alexandria Jiminez | Colorado
Adrian Molina | Colorado
Mariko Chang | Hawaii
Emmanuel Eze | Idaho
Nicole Davis | New Mexico
Fawn Douglas | Nevada
Candace Kita | Oregon
Amir Jackson | Utah
Cheiko Phillips | Washington
Robert Martinez | Wyoming
2014
Moriah Sallaffie | Alaska
Yvonne Montoya | Arizona
Luis Escareño | California
Nikiko Masumoto | California
Brandy Reitter | Colorado
Saniego Sanchez | Colorado
Lehua Simon | Hawaii
Leta Neustaedter | Idaho
Regina Still Smoking | Montana
Gabrielle Uballez | New Mexico
Ashanti McGee | Nevada
Marla Lepe | Utah
Brian Carter | Washington
Joshua Heim | Washington
Nurieh Glasgow | Wyoming
2013
Rico Worl | Alaska
Myrlin Hepworth | Arizona
Cindy Im | California
Abe Flores | California
Danielle Brooks | Colorado
Madalena Salazar | Colorado
Estria Miyashiro | Hawaii
Jadira Gurule | New Mexico
Anastacio Del Real | Nevada
Robin Mullins | Oregon
Claudia Borjas | Utah
SuJ’n Chon | Washington
2012
Abigail Enghirst | Alaska
Sarah Guerra | California
Maria Paredes | California
Sophia Fernandez Healy | Colorado
Trisha Lagaso Goldberg | Hawaii
Brooke Swaney | Montana
Wayne Burke | Nevada (deceased)
Bianca McCarthy | Oregon
Michelle Patrick | Utah
My Tam Nguyen | Washington
2010
Christine Marasign | Alaska
J. Gibran Villalobos | Arizona
Monica Ximena Delgado | California
David Dadone | Colorado
Marques Hanalei Marzan | Hawaii
Bahija Sayed Qasim | Idaho
Dyani Bingham | Montana
Hakim Bellamy | New Mexico
Tony Walker | Nevada
Tonisha Toler | Oregon
Jesus Rios | Wyoming
ELC Program Expansion: South Arts Partnership
In July 2019, WESTAF established a new partnership with South Arts to launch the region’s inaugural Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) program. WESTAF Manager of Social Equity and Inclusion Madalena Salazar and Director of Impact and Public Policy David Holland, along with faculty members Salvador Acevedo and Margie Johnson 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 (2), Georgia (1), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Mississippi (1), North Carolina (2), South Carolina (2) and Tennessee (1) in October. Due to the pandemic, both WESTAF and South Arts have shifted the program to a virtual format. The virtual convening spanned three days—December 3, 4 and 9, 2020—and featured lectures and interactive and social elements. WESTAF is grateful to have this opportunity to expand the ELC program through our partnership with South Arts.
