Fellowship in Arts and Culture Management

		Update: Fellowship featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy
		Special report recognizes The Chicago Community Trust's initiative to advance diversity within cultural management. Read the article here.

Six Chosen for Fellowship in Arts & Culture Management Program

Responding to the need for increased ethnic and cultural diversity within the management and executive ranks of the country's arts and cultural institutions, The Chicago Community Trust introduced the six fellows chosen for its new Fellowship in Arts and Culture Management Program. This $1 million, two-year program funded by the Trust was developed in conjunction with the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Children's Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Science and Industry and John G. Shedd Aquarium.

The six ethnically and culturally diverse fellows were chosen from a national pool of more than 250 candidates and have extensive skills in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. The program gives the fellows the opportunity to gain valuable management experience by completing a series of four-month residencies at the participating institutions. After finishing this program, fellows may be eligible for open management positions at prominent arts and cultural institutions in the Chicago area. The program is designed to benefit the Chicago community well beyond the actual Fellowship program.

"Chicago is recognized as a leader and trend setter for culture and the arts," says Terry Mazany, president and CEO of the Trust. "The intention of the Trust and its partners is to not only advance diversity among the executive teams of these six institutions but also create a national model."

The fellows are:

Sandra Aponte - Community Relations Fellow
	Ms. Aponte has worked in Chicago with low-income youth through Alternative Schools Network, the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development and Gallery 37. She has served as a Human Resources Coordinator for the Teachers Academy for Mathematics and Science and as a Development Manager for the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. Her first two rotations: The Chicago Community Trust and John G. Shedd Aquarium.

Shanstella Barnes - Accounting Fellow

Ms. Barnes holds an MBA in accounting from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. She has worked for several non-profit groups, including Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago and Deborah's Place. In the private sector she has worked in both the property and asset management industries for Castlebar Enterprises and for the Investment Management Corporation. Her first two rotations: Chicago Children's Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo.

W. Imara Canady - Community Relations Fellow
	A performer turned administrator, Mr. Canady appeared with Wildfire World Theater in Sydney, Australia, before joining the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. Later, he worked for the Office of the Mayor in Atlanta, where he was involved in event planning and media and community relations. His first two rotations: Chicago History Museum and Chicago Children's Museum.

Safiyah Jackson - Education Fellow

Ms. Jackson was most recently zone manager with the Ford Motor Company Chicago Region Marketing and Sales Team where she served in a consultant role with dealership management teams. She has an MBA in Marketing from Florida A&M University and has earned a master's degree in Early Education Administration from National-Lewis University. Ms. Jackson serves as a volunteer with Chicago Children's Museum, Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League, and as a Net Impact Service Corps consultant; she is also a member of the Young Leaders Fund philanthropic group. Her first two rotations are at the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Tanya Jeong - Marketing Fellow

Ms. Jeong holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and Economics from the University of Michigan, and will receive her Master's of Science in Communication from Northwestern University in 2008. Her professional experience includes marketing and advertising work at Starcom MediaVest Group where she worked on the accounts of Kraft Foods, Heinz and the U.S. Army. Her first two rotations: Museum of Science and Industry and Chicago History Museum.

Veronica Vidal - Development Fellow

Ms. Vidal has served as public relations manager for the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago, and has contributed articles on treatments for drug dependency to Prevention First. She also has volunteered with the Arts and Business Council of Chicago, the Beverly Arts Center of Chicago and the theater group Teatro Vista. Her first two rotations: Lincoln Park Zoo and Art Institute of Chicago.

For 92 years, The Chicago Community Trust has linked the generosity of its donors and the needs of the community. With $1.6 billion in assets, the Trust awards grants to some 1,200 organizations working to improve the lives of people in metropolitan Chicago—totaling some $90 million in 2007.