AWARDS
A winner of 2002 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and a 2003 Storytelling World Award, The Promise of Chrysanthemums by storyteller, Motoko. http://motoko.folktales.net/products.html
MEMBERSHIPS
Member of American Institute of Graphic Arts, Boston Chapter (AIGA) aiga.org
Member of African American Web Developers (AAAWD) aaawd.org
Professional Activities and Work Experience
Marketing Director/Design & Publicity Director (July 1987-present)
New WORLD Theater, Fine Arts Center, University of Massachusetts August 1987- present
New WORLD Theater, in residence at the Fine Arts Center, University of Massachusetts Amherst, has become a regional arts leader, earning a reputation as visionary cultural leader, whose primary focus is the presentation and production of works by artists of color. As the Marketing Director , I am responsible for working with and supervising staff to create and implement various marketing, publicity and outreach strategies. New WORLD Theater presents and produces over 20 play events each year and a bi-annual conference in addition to artists developmental residencies, community workshops and forums. The Marketing Area is responsible for presenting and preserving the identity of New WORLD Theater in the community and for the general public. Various components of the job include: working with various NWT departments to create and implement promotional strategies for all NWT events and programs; developing and maintaining various audience development strategies and community/ media outreach efforts (sometimes topic or community-based); developing and utilizing technology-based marketing tools including email marketing and the NWT website; the creation and maintenance of a public identity for New WORLD Theater through the design & production of materials such as brochures, flyers, posters and bi-annual newsletter, specially produced journals and booklets and the NWT website; serving as a liaison to other University departments and national theater organizations.
Freelance Graphic Artist, September 1980 to present
Desktop publishing and webpage designs for various clients and individual artists including Hampshire College, Westfield State College History Department, Five Colleges Inc., Amherst Ballet Center, UMASS Everywoman's Center, Massachusetts Assoc. of Marriage & Family Therapists (MAMFT), the Boston-area Urban League and the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys. Print and Webpage Design.
Development Coordinator (part-time), November 1999 - May 2002
Hampshire Community Action Commission, The Amherst Family Center (AFC)
Worked to maintain current grant sources and research new grant sources; writing and submitting grant proposals including Hampshire County United Way and Amherst Cultural Council. I worked with Central Administration to complete an Annual Direct Mail Campaign as well as worked closely with the Program Director and parent volunteers on organizing and publicizing fund-raising events. Our largest fund-raising event, the Apple Harvest Festival is a volunteer-driven event which yields approximately $14,000 each year. I also assisted with AFC organizational development, outreach and publicity by serving as a staff member on the AFC Advisory Board.
Assistant Director, Public Relations/Outreach, August 1985 to August 1987
Everywoman's Center, University of Massachusetts
Duties included instruction and supervision of student interns, design and paste-up of fliers, brochures, and posters for various EWC programs; writing press releases and updating mailing lists. Completion of camera ready mechanicals.
Webpage Design Intern, June 2001-August 2001
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Worked with Discovery Theater (children's theater of Smithsonian Institution) and the Webpage Development Department on developing art, animation and navigation and designing webpages for Smithsonian Institution programs. Webpages I designed can be viewed at www.kitefestival.org and www.discoverytheater.org
Producer/Program Director, Bright Moments Festival, May 1994 - May 1998
The Bright Moments Festival is an outdoor summer jazz/Pan African music festival that takes place at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, attracting between 3000 and 7500 people each summer. Previous talent includes Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Babatunde Olatunji, the Mighty Sparrow, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, ReBirth Brass Band and many others. As Producer/Program Director, I was responsible for creating and maintaining the budget, researching prospective talent, negotiating contract terms with agents/performers, supervising the marketing and the overall production of the festival.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
AMHERST CENTER FOR STAGE AND SCREEN
Executive Committee, April 2004 - July 2006
The Board worked with a local developer to create a cinema space in downtown Amherst. A $1.2 million dollar project. I also served on a subcommittee aimed at securing a business plan that accomodates plans for a cinema with live performance capability.
UMOJA TOO JAPAN TOUR, July 2002
UMOJA TOO is a children's African Dance troupe founded by Earline Robinson. We participated in a cultural exchange, living with host families, performing at festivals and conducting workshops throughout the interior including Kakamigahara City and Gifu City. I was one of the troupe drummers, trip organizer and chaperone.
Massachusetts Cultural Council , February 1995.
Served on 5-member committee to review project grant applications from local cultural councils.
AMHERST "A BETTER CHANCE" Public Relations Committee, 1993 - 1997
Local chapter of the national program that supports urban youth attending high school. Developed marketing materials. Worked with Board members on public relations.
Arts Extension Service Summer Program in Arts Managemen, June, 1992
Completed 2-day conference addressing various arts management issues including financial management, audience development, programming and grantwriting.
Amherst Cultural Council , July 1992 - July 1998
Served as chairperson of this 7-member committee charged by the Massachusetts Cultural Council with the review of project applications and the distribution of state funds at the local level.
