Georgia Arts Day & Arts Action Summit 2025

Tina Lilly is the Executive Director of the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, where she has led the organization since 2021. She brings a depth of knowledge of Georgia’s arts communities and a lifetime of arts advocacy to the role. GCA actively supports arts organizations across the state, strengthens arts education and student literary programs, promotes and preserves Georgia’s cultural heritage, and encourages the use of the arts in community and economic development. Under Lilly’s leadership, GCA applied for and received an $11.4 million American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant from the state. These funds supported the hard-hit arts sector following COVID-19 through grants, training, and new programs.

Jay Dick is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Partnerships in the Government Affairs Department at Americans for the Arts.  As a twenty-five-year veteran of K Street, Capitol Hill, the private sector, and federal, state, and local campaigns, Jay possesses a vast body of knowledge in arts policy, government, the legislative process, partnerships, and grassroots advocacy.  He is a nationally recognized speaker on these topics and works at all levels of government to advance the arts and culture in America.  The media regularly interview Jay, and he testifies in front of legislative bodies as a subject matter expert on these topics and on Americans for the Arts’ legislative positions, which include appropriations, arts education, tax policy, and health care.

Ron Anglin is a Georgia native, a graduate of West Point, a former Army helicopter pilot, high school teacher, and coach who holds a Master’s Degree in Education.  As a comedic and educational juggler, in his affiliation with Young Audiences, Fulton County’s Teaching Museum, FABArts of Columbus, Laughter League Atlanta, and Kate’s Club, he has 25 years of experience as a teaching artist, 20 years as a healthcare clown, and 15 years working with grieving children.

Conrhonda E. Baker. Conrhonda’s love for the arts started with after-school dance and twirling classes in rural Georgia. Nowadays, you might find her shuffling in a tap class or stretching on a yoga mat. She’s all about holistic and regenerative grant-making approaches. Conrhonda honed her skills at places like Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Alabama Dance Council, Vulcan Park and Museum, Birmingham Museum of Art, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and South Arts. A veteran grant panelist, she’s lent her expertise to Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Dance/NYC, National Endowment for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and NY Community Trust. In addition to being a Women of Color in the Arts member, she holds a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University and dual B.A.s in African American Studies and Sociology with a minor in Dance Education from The University of Georgia.

Colt Chambers. Colt Chambers is a dedicated advocate for the arts and the nonprofit sector with nearly a decade of experience in arts administration, operations management, fundraising and development, and strategic planning. He is the Owner and Producer of The Alley Stage on the Marietta Square, which opened in July 2023 and has quickly become a premier live entertainment destination in Cobb County. Before establishing The Alley Stage, Colt served as Director of Development and marketing for The Georgia Ballet, where he surpassed pre-COVID unearned revenue targets, achieved record-breaking ticket sales for the 2022/2023 season, and developed a comprehensive three-year Development Plan, ensuring the organization’s sustainability. He also served as Managing Director of the Atlanta Lyric Theatre. Colt has served as a Council Member for the Georgia Council for the Arts since 2019 and was appointed Chairman of the Council in June 2024 by Governor Kemp. He holds a Master’s in Arts Administration and a Certificate in Fundraising and Development from the University of Kentucky. He has completed advanced coursework in arts strategy, administration, and innovation at Vanderbilt University, the University of Maryland, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania. In October 2022, Colt received his Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation.

Randy Davidson is the Founder and CEO of Georgia Entertainment. From the creative and entertainment capital of the world, Georgia Entertainment is the leading source of news, analysis, and commentary for the film, broadcast, digital production, arts, music, and gaming industries.

John Doyle studied theatre at Morehouse College under the tutelage of Carol Mitchell-Leon and Whitman Mayo at Clark Atlanta University.  He has appeared at numerous theatres in Atlanta and beyond and worked as a teaching artist with the Alliance Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Kaiser-Permanente Educational Theatre, and TLC, a juvenile diversion program of the Fulton County Court System.  He offers theatre- and storytelling-based school programs and residencies, including Digital Storytelling and portraits of historical figures.

Norman “Norm” Easterbrook was appointed executive director of RiverCenter in September 2015. Beginning in 2003, he previously served as director of the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on the Oxford campus of the University of Mississippi. He was responsible for the overall programming and management, including national touring productions, classical, contemporary, and pop music, dance, theater, and other events. Norm has extensive experience in arts management and administration in public and private sectors, having worked in the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs for several years, as well as the Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Georgia, and the Rylander Theatre in Americus, Georgia. At the University of Mississippi, he was director of the American Music Archives, funded by the Library of Congress, documenting and preserving American music through digitization of research collections and training oral historians in documenting music traditions.

Shanelle Freeman, also known as Shanelle Amor, is originally from Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she began her classical and folk-dance training at John Hopkins Middle School for the Performing Arts at the age of ten and later trained at The Academy of Ballet Arts on full scholarship (while attending high school). She graduated from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School, where she studied under the direction of Suzanne Pomerantzeff and Patricia L. Paige-Parks. After graduation, Shanelle received a full dance scholarship to attend Florida Dance Theatre’s summer intensive dance program and was later asked by Carol Erkes, Director & Founder, to join Polk County’s only professional contemporary ballet company in Lakeland, Florida. She danced for the company’s 2009 & 2010 Season under the direction of Carol Erkes and Freddie Dejesus. In addition, Shanelle received two dance scholarships for Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts summer intensive dance program in 2009 & 2010 and was later awarded a full dance scholarship at St. Petersburg College. In addition, she’s trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Broadway Dance Center, Debbie Reynolds, mL Dance Studio, Millennium Dance Complex-LA, Dance 411 Studios, Gotta Dance Atlanta Studio, VYB Dance Studio, and All-American Dance Factory.

Laura Henninghausen has worked for the past 18 years with nonprofit organizations and corporate and private funders to direct resources to where they are most impactful. As Director of Strategic Philanthropy at Purpose Possible, Laura focuses on emerging practices and innovative methods to strengthen the nonprofit sector. She regularly works with funders to develop new programs through a community-centered approach, such as Arts Capital | Atlanta. Laura currently serves as Board Co-Chair of MODA and Board Chair of Soul Food Cypher. She holds a master’s degree in Arts Administration.

Tamara Irving, an esteemed arts educator and performer, boasts a rich background in dance. Her impressive career includes performances with the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Opera and lead roles in Disney’s The Lion King. With 12 years as the former dance director at North Atlanta High School and adjunct roles at Kennesaw State University and Brenau University, she’s a pillar in arts education. As owner of TMI Design & Consulting, she champions arts programs and co-founded Dance Stories ATL, which is dedicated to honoring Atlanta’s Black dance heritage.

Lauren Jackson Harris is an independent curator and consultant from Atlanta, GA. She earned her BFA in Graphic Design and Art History from Howard University and her MA in Creative Leadership from SCAD. In 2019, she co-founded Black Women in Visual Art, an organization that connects, cultivates, and serves Black women arts professionals. With BWVA, Harris builds partnerships and develops programs that create further visibility and opportunity for Black women in art. As an independent arts worker with over 15 years of professional experience, Harris has managed special projects, curated exhibitions, and produced art experiences with organizations and art spaces such as the High Museum of Atlanta, Atlanta Art Fair, For Freedoms, Facebook, The Gathering Spot, Stay Home Gallery, Living Walls, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Frieze Los Angeles, SoHo House and more. She most recently served as the Beltline Public Art Advisory Council’s Co-Chair and is currently on the Dashboard Board of Directors. Harris is the Program Director for The Black Embodiments Studio and an active art advocate consulting with artists on their practice and career-based opportunities.

Mama Koku is known throughout metro Atlanta for her highly interactive storytelling style.  She rarely performs alone as students and audience members join her on stage for an energized, improvised “story-doing” experience!  Koku graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University, majoring in Theater with a concentration in performance and education. Early in her career, she taught in the classroom as a high school theatre teacher and was a Pre-K lead teacher for seven years.  As a teaching artist, storyteller, and children’s writer for over 25 years,  Koku’s magnetic style once earned her the title of Official Teller for the National Black Arts Festival’s Education Village and The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Book Fair. She was also a Rambler for the Wrens Nest House Museum for seven years. Reruns of her children’s program, World Stories with Mama Koku, produced by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters, can be seen on YouTube.   Mama Koku is the author of the picture books “Zuri the Fairy”, and “Little Black Fairy and Other Very Fairy, Stories, Poems, Rhythms & Rhymes”, both available on Amazon.

Lemuel Life LaRoche. Lemuel “Life” LaRoche is a prominent social worker, educator, and community leader in Northeast Georgia. As the founder of Chess and Community, a nonprofit organization established in 2012, LaRoche uses the game of chess to teach life skills, empower young people, and foster community engagement. Born and raised in New York City, LaRoche learned chess with community elders in city parks, drawing valuable life lessons that would shape his future endeavors in community service. LaRoche earned his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and his Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Georgia, concentrating in Youth and Community Development. Throughout his career, he has held numerous professional roles, including serving as an instructor at the University of Georgia’s School of Social Work, radio personality, motivational speaker, therapist, and co-founder of Impact Counseling and Consulting. LaRoche is also a talented poet and spoken word artist, which led to his nickname “Life.” In 2012, LaRoche founded Chess and Community, an organization that evolved from his outreach projects as a student at the School of Social Work. The nonprofit leverages the power of chess as a catalyst for teaching kids valuable life lessons and promoting community engagement. Under LaRoche’s leadership, Chess and Community engages nearly 500+ kids in Athens, Macon, and Atlanta, Georgia, each year, offering scholarships, organizing book clubs, debate clubs, robotics, coding and running afterschool programs, and involving parents in their children’s development.

Barry Stewart Mann is an Atlanta-based actor, storyteller, and teaching artist with a BA from Harvard University and an MFA in Theatre from the University of San Diego.  He has appeared in dozens of plays around the country, told stories to thousands of listeners in the US and abroad, and worked as a teaching artist in educational settings for over 30 years.  He is on the rosters of the Alliance Theatre, Georgia Council for the Arts, ArtsNOW, the Teaching Museum, Utah State University’s Arts Access Program, and the Fulbright Specialist Program.

Jeff Mather is a community-based Public Artist, an Environmental Sculptor, and a Teaching Artist based in Decatur, Georgia. A member of Alternate ROOTS since 1992, he has directed several Community/Artist Partnership Projects partially funded by Alternate ROOTS. Jeff has served as the STEAM Artist-in-Residence for over ten years at a STEAM school in Atlanta, Drew Charter School. He is also a digital storytelling and video projection mapping design coach. He is the lead artist for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Access Program in northern Utah, a full-inclusion program for artists with disabilities. Jeff has also served as an Innovator for the International Teaching Artists Collaborative and run workshops at ITAC biennial conferences.

Sasikala Penumarthi is a senior disciple of Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam.  She received the Master Artist Award from the Georgia Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Advancement of Arts.  She serves as an Artist Affiliate and Associate Faculty at Emory University, where she teaches full-credit courses in Kuchipudi.  She is on the Georgia Council State Touring and Teaching Artist Roster and performs and teaches all over the United States.  Sasikala and her troupe have performed several dramas, including her own productions, to Atlanta audiences and in other parts of the United States.

Emida Roller, based in Georgia, has nurtured a lifelong passion for art, considering it an integral part of her identity. Specializing in outdoor murals, she derives great fulfillment from their ability to enhance public spaces, foster community unity, and make a lasting impact. Emida believes deeply in their capacity to convey powerful messages of positive change, transcending mere words.

Olivia Tarpley is the Public Policy Manager at Americans for the Arts. Originally from western North Carolina, Olivia is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received her Master of Education in Education Policy from American University and has been with Americans for the Arts since May 2022. Olivia manages government affairs, arts education webinars, and virtual arts advocacy programs like the National Arts Advocacy Zoom-In week. In addition, Olivia supports the organization’s Congressional Engagement, policy work, and State and District Captains programs. Olivia lives and works in Washington, D.C., and enjoys trying new restaurants with friends.