National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC)

NALAC is excited to announce and welcome four new team members: Cat Rodríguez as Director of Programs, April Orci as Senior Technology Manager, Mario Mena as Director of Human Resources, and Misael Alvarado as Director of Development. Read the announcement: https://lnkd.in/gKWrP757

😀 Sharing food, drinks & laughs: NLI 2024 orientation concluded with a welcome dinner to help our fellows get ready for a great week! #nli2024 #nalacarts #artsleadership #latinx #artsandculture #gettingtoknowyou #justgettingstarted

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Dr. Miriam Padilla Vargas Dr. Miriam Padilla Vargas, Executive Director of Bomba Marilé, was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Bomba Marilé strives to share Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba music, history, and culture through interactive and educational events that create a sense of community. Dr. Miriam Padilla has been honored to receive multiple recognitions for her work as a community organizer, including the WESTAF BIPOC Fund, the Utah Arts Fellowship Grant, Special Congressional Recognition, Salt Lake County Commission Recognition, and more. Miriam is proud to represent her traditions and is grateful for those who support the cultural arts. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Dr. Miriam Padilla Vargas: https://lnkd.in/gM9__CjE

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Yura Sapi Yura Sapi (they/them) is a visionary leader, creative activist, and interdisciplinary artist dedicated to co-creating joyful and abundant futures in harmony with each other and Mother Earth. Yura is Indigenous Kichwa, with Ecuadorian and Colombian citizenship and a lifelong connection to their birthplace on Manahatta island. Embracing their Kichwa name, Yura embodies strong roots and a profound connection to trees and plants. Through their new nonprofit organization, LiberArte Inc., Yura collaborates to nurture artists for a thriving planet. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Yura Sapi: https://lnkd.in/grnaH_Nn

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Michelle Ruiz Michelle Ruiz is a Mexican American visual arts management specialist and curator born and raised in Chicago, IL. Ruiz currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the U.S. Latinx Art Forum (USLAF) and is the founder of Elle Art Consulting. As Program Coordinator of USLAF, Ruiz supports the Latinx Artist Fellowship and orchestrates the “X as Intersection” program series, which brings fellows, Latinx curatorial colleagues, and USLAF Executive Committee members into a conversation that highlights dynamic thematics while centering the art practice of each individual fellow. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Michelle Ruiz: https://lnkd.in/gJVZ46jw

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Erick Rodriguez Erick is a first-generation bilingual Guatemalan-American and an experienced youth mentor and instructor committed to supporting young people within and beyond the classroom setting. As a creative, Erick is an artist, educator, and champion of the life-changing power of the arts. Erick is passionate about creating equitable access to arts education and believes every child should be able to participate in the arts. He serves as the Program Director for CoachArt, a national nonprofit organization that provides free online arts and athletics lessons to children impacted by chronic illness. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Erick Rodriguez: https://lnkd.in/gG_sAcD6

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Rikki Riojas Rikki Riojas was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Since 2019, she has been a member of Los Descendientes de Tucson; she is currently their Board President and one of the two Mexican American Museum Co-Directors. Riojas’ focus is on community and creating sustainable and equitable relationships with community members in order to preserve and elevate the deep history and knowledge present within the barrios. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Rikki Riojas: https://lnkd.in/gmp_W56u

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Joshua J. Ramirez Joshua J. Ramirez is a brown-indigenous social practice artist, museum arts administrator and cultural practitioner who works and resides in Los Angeles County. He currently works in Youth Development Programs at the J. Paul Getty Center in Los Angeles. Using his own mental illness and disability as a platform for systemic change, he has successfully started his own nonprofit that merges advocacy and art. Saint Remy Arts & Culture provides transformative and cultural spaces for individuals with mental illness, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts through the creative process of art and creation. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Joshua J. Ramirez: https://lnkd.in/gMWkM875

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Claudia S. Preza Claudia S. Preza is a bilingual curator focusing primarily on identity and counter-hegemonic initiatives within the US and MX border region. She strives to develop exhibitions and programming that present narratives of historically silenced individuals within the US art historical canon, such as the Latine and LGBTQIA+ community. With 10 years of experience working in museums and galleries, Preza has worked with various art institutions and holds an MA in museum professions with a concentration in Exhibition Development and a BA in Art History. Currently, she is the Assistant Curator at the El Paso Museum of Art. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about Claudia S. Preza: https://lnkd.in/gtGi9nKx

✨2024 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow: J. Edgar Mozoub Edgar is an actor, director, photographer, journalist and radio/TV host. He began his professional career at the tender age of 12 while working with some of NYC’s and the Caribbean prominent directors, such as Pablo Cabrera, Victoria Espinosa and Hector Luis Rivera, among others. Aside from his acting work, at that age, he already held several technical positions, including house manager, stage manager and props assistant. Edgar is currently the Managing Director and Associate Producer at the Society of the Educational Arts / Teatro SEA. 👉🏽💻 Learn more about J. Edgar Mozoub: https://lnkd.in/gMuKAAvb