Education Programs Manager

Transdisciplinary artist whose practice seeks to reach the natural depths of memory that hands carry through lineage. She dreams alongside the archives of the black diaspora, crafting architecture(s) for the world to embrace through igbo rituals, meditation, touch, and intimacy.

Community Actors Program (CAP)

Hailing from the South Side of Chicago, Kendra's journey as an artist began as a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) student performing in classroom plays. Her sense of identity was cultivated on the stage exploring spoken word poetry and now actively working as a theater actress. She is an advocate for expression and takes pride in being gifted the opportunity to provide learners with safe spaces to grow and know themselves as people & artists.

Community Actors Program (CAP)

Kierah {KIKI} King received their BFA in Dance with a minor in Black World Studies from Columbia College Chicago with the class of 2020. KIKI’s work in Chicago comes from their passion and commitment for social justice, activism, and community building that present themselves through forms of media, performance, choreographic work and different forms of workshops and events throughout the city of Chicago.

Teen Arts Council (TAC)

Kee Merriweather is a Chicago born and raised artist. Kee’s work explores the duality of collage and archives through printed matter, literature, research, pedagogy, and archiving. Their work explores a range of themes of Black nostalgia, popular culture, and intersections of race, gender, and class. Kee is the founder behind former archival projects such as the Black Matriarch Archive, Homagetoblkmadonnas, and crunkmusicarchive.

Design Apprenticeship Program (DAP)

Asante is an aspiring electrical engineer and educator, combining music with art and science.

Design Apprenticeship Program (DAP)

Artist working through sculpture, archiving, and various media to confront the implications of being undocumented in the US, searching for ways to ground safety, home, and legacy for himself and the communities he loves.

Teen Arts Council (TAC)

Simone Athena Scigousky (She/They) is an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Logan Square. After graduating from SAIC in 2022 with a B.F.A.A.E, Simone has taught visual art at Walter Payton College Prep High School and currently teaches her art activist program, Printmaking & Protest, at Gallery 37 through After School Matters. Simone's ideal educational environment is one where students are encouraged to experiment, explore, and ultimately express themselves. Collaboration, communication, and community are the cornerstones of their pedagogy. In her own artistic practice, Simone enjoys intuitively playing with color, mark, and form through collage, mixed media, fiber art, painting/drawing, and sculpture.

Design Apprenticeship Program (DAP)

Maddie Vaccaro (she/they) is an artist, educator, armchair philosopher, and curious person. From singing songs to her cat to documenting the moon, she brings art and levity into her everyday. Her artwork takes physical form in fiber, ceramic, woodworking and sculpture.

The Back Stage Production (BSP)

Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, Devonte remains committed to supporting southside communities. In addition to his teaching of BSP, he has served as a Stage Manager, Sound Designer, Lighting designer, Projections Designer, and Crew on productions in Chicago and nationally.

The Back Stage Production (BSP)

Educator, artist, and a long time backstage production crew member. Razor has worked and toured locally and internationally with concerts, films, plays, cruises, expos, and dance companies. She also mentors youth to get more involved working backstage.