Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring industry professionals as they delve into the complexities and opportunities within nonprofit arts and culture. This conversation will explore career pathways in the sector, opportunities and challenges in nonprofit work, and the essential role nonprofit organizations play in supporting artists, audiences, and creative communities. Whether you’re an emerging artist, arts administrator, or passionate advocate for the arts, this discussion will provide valuable insights into navigating the nonprofit landscape and fostering a thriving creative ecosystem.
This event is free and open to the public.
EVENT DETAILS
When: Thursday, April 17, 6-7:30 PM
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48201
Moderator: Miah J. Davis, Detroit Artists Market
Panelists:
Adam DesJardins – Program Officer, Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation
Adam DesJardins is a Program Officer for the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, working with current and prospective arts and jazz grantees to support a culturally vibrant Metro Detroit. He believes the arts are essential to creating transformational change, whether it be personal or structural.
Adam brings over a decade of experience in arts administration and production, having worked at local and national arts nonprofits like UMS (University Musical Society), Detroit Puppet Company, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Prior to working at the Foundation, Adam served as director of programs for CultureSource, overseeing 10 grantmaking programs. He currently serves on the board of Detroit Sound Conservancy as Governance Chair and as a member of Grantmakers in the Arts Support for Individual Artists Committee.
Adam earned a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Michigan with minors in French and Francophone Studies and Performing Arts Management. He runs This Month, a monthly newsletter of arts happenings in and around Detroit, and enjoys going to the library and hanging out with his grandparents.
Jainelle Robinson – Dir. of Community Engagement and Public Relations, ArtOps
With extensive experience organizing diverse teams around shared goals, Jainelle Robinson is a passionate and skilled non-profit administrator, delivering high quality project experiences. Responsible for leading the business side of mission driven organizations, she has supported hundreds of artists and local organizations in curating community engagement opportunities by managing small and large-scale projects, totaling over one million dollars. Leveraging her skills as a trained mediator and facilitator, she has curated monthly professional development workshops specifically designed to increase equity for underrepresented Creative entrepreneurs. Her wealth of volunteer experience working alongside communities in Washtenaw County helped to shape her collaborative leadership style. Currently, she collaborates with business owners, community leaders, educational institutions, and city officials in several cities across the country, including New York, NY, Atlanta, GA, Detroit, Southfield, and Highland Park, MI, Indianapolis, IN, Chicago, IL, to generate sustainable economic opportunities for Creative Entrepreneurs.
Rochelle Riley – Director, Detroit Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship
ROCHELLE RILEY, writer by trade, warrior by necessity, spent almost 20 years as a nationally syndicated columnist before becoming the City of Detroit’s Director of Arts and Culture Her first project was the America’s first city-wide memorial to victims of Covid-19 https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/845921. In 2022, her office launched the Detroit Mural Map, where her office documents every mural painted across the city. More than 700 murals and artist biographies are on the site now. She co-hosted the nation’s first National Street Art Summit, which brought seven of the USA Today-Top Ten cities creating murals to Detroit. She speaks with conviction about support for America’s creative workforce as well as about popular culture, race relations and the need to teach a complete American history to American children. She is the author of two books: “The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery,” which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said was “one of the most comprehensive, enlightening, and thought-provoking books I have ever read on African-American history” and “That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed The World.” Rochelle is a trivia and “Jeopardy “fiend who also sings show tunes on demand. She lives near the banks of the Detroit River but is rarely at home. She has visited 28 countries and 33 states.
Kiana Wenzell – Co-Executive Director, Design Core Detroit
Kiana Wenzell is the Co-Executive Director of Design Core Detroit and Director of the Detroit Month of Design. With over 21 years of experience, she has led design and public art projects throughout Detroit, including resident-led design initiatives that empower neighborhoods. She has also collaborated with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and worked with brands and organizations like Gucci, Foot Locker, Kickstarter, Bedrock, the Consulate of Italy, and the College for Creative Studies to create impactful design initiatives.
Born and raised in Detroit, Kiana is passionate about using design to shape communities and create opportunities. She earned her undergraduate degree in interior design from Eastern Michigan University and a graduate degree in technical writing and professional communication from Lawrence Technological University.
This program is made possible with generous support from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, whose investment in the Detroit Artists Market strengthens career development and creative opportunities for artists.