Creative Support for Organizations-Round 2

Vernita Clinton: Clinton is the founder of Recycling Art Concepts where she helps turn paper waste into beautiful art pieces. She has made Viking boats her primary art collection. She graduated from Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL) with a BA in arts. She plans to turn nothing into something one day.; Sharon Elmore: Elmore is a retired attorney and nonprofit professional with varied corporate and nonprofit experience. Most recently, she worked for bar associations providing continuing education, fundraising events, communications, plus social networking and volunteer opportunities. Other work included website development, grant compliance, quantitative, and qualitative research; consumer law practice; nutrition extension (Peace Corps volunteer); and more. She served on nonprofit boards, including an arts nonprofit providing affordable rental space for small theater companies, a private school, and currently a condo homeowners association. She has a BA from Earlham College (Richmond, IN) and a JD from Iowa Law School (Iowa City, IA).; Scott Hebert: Hebert has been involved in local theater in Duluth since 2008. He has worked on stage, backstage, front of house, and in volunteer roles for The Duluth Playhouse and Renegade Theater Company. His latest project is a podcast entering its fifth year, including eight live audience recordings in downtown Duluth. He has also served on the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival steering committee.; Dylan Jubera: Jubera served the Lower Sioux Community for almost four years at the nonprofit organization called Dakota Wicohan (DW). Jubera's position at DW was office manager. While at DW, Jubera was chosen to participate in a grant writing class that was funded and taught by First Nations (Boulder, CO). Jubera was trained by some of the best Native American grant writers in America. Since then, Jubera has gone on to successfully write three grants. Jubera looks forward to writing more grants in the future and sees grant writing as a way to help his underserved Native American community. Also, while working for Dakota Wicohan, Jubera was able to participate in numerous traditional Dakota art classes taught by master Native American artists.; Anthony Marchetti: Marchetti is a photographic artist residing in the Twin Cities. In 2016, he was a teaching/ research Fulbright Scholar in Budapest, Hungary. He currently serves as department chair and full-time faculty of photography at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Marchetti graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2001 with a BA in fine arts and received an MFA from the University of Minnesota in 2005. He has received grants from The McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board. He has served on review panels for the Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council.; Lisa Martinson: Martinson currently works as human resources and DEAI coach for nonprofit organizations. Graduating from both the University of South Dakota with a master's degree in adult and higher education and in Native American studies, and South Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in sociology-human services, she has been able to take her educational pursuits to several U. S. based higher education institutions and various arts organizations (including but not limited to American Folk Art Museum, Nashville Metro Arts, Nashville Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Walnut Hill School for the Arts) while expanding on her professional experience in overall organizational development and effectiveness.; Kirsten Sorensen: Sorensen is a full-time psychiatric music therapist at Fairview Riverside/M Health hospital serving patients in detox and ten other inpatient mental health units by facilitating groups and providing individualized sessions. She has worked for Fairview since 2009 as a music therapist and previously worked at Ebenezer Care Center. She graduated from Augsburg College with a BS in music therapy. She also trains music therapy students to go into the field. In addition to her career in musical therapy, Sorensen has been a part of various small and large ensemble musical groups on the flute. She released her debut EP "Restless Mercy", a collection of original songs on voice and piano, in 2021.; Melissa Williamson-Herren: Williamson-Herren recently retired and closed her retail art gallery and frame shop. Driven by a commitment to support the creative and professional development of artists at all levels, her real passion was creating an environment for personally meaningful encounters with art, often hosting exhibitions that brought awareness and conversation around social issues. Williamson-Herren graduated from Augsburg University with a degree in social work and has experience ranging from community organizing to staffing group homes. Williamson-Herren has developed a mindfulness curriculum using works of art as a focus and is currently working on developing one for bridging social disconnection.