Arts Experiences

Amelia Colwell: Colwell is a writer and fundraising consultant with eighteen years of nonprofit programming, development, and fundraising experience. Colwell is working on her memoir and has written for the Out Cold: A Spooky Anthology Series podcast, the Listen to Your Mother ? Twin Cities storytelling show, and The Iowa Review. She graduated from the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) with a BA in social work and psychology.; Rebecca Jahr: Jahr is a member of Gallery 24 and is on the media board. She is retired from the Mayo Clinic and has been creating dot mandalas for more than five years. She has recently started teaching classes at Gallery 24.; Blake Nellis: Nellis is a published fine art photographer, educator, choreographer, and performing artist. His work is deeply rooted in human connection, physical touch, and nature. He graduated from Luther College with a degree in theater and dance. Nellis is a recipient of several Minnesota State Arts Board grants. He lives and works with his family in south Minneapolis.; Ayan Omar: Omar was born in Madina, Saudi Arabia. She grew up in Damascus, Syria, and moved to the United States in 2012 with her mother, sister, and brothers. Omar holds a bachelor's degree in corporate and general finance with minors in business law and business administration. She is a financial institution's examiner at the Minnesota Department of Commerce and serves as the minority population commissioner on Region Nine Development Commission. In 2018, she appeared in Martin Lang and Noah O'Ryan's documentary film, (Mid)West of Somalia, sharing her family's story of seeking success in the United States while also searching for a meaningful connection to the new home they've built.; Aaron Preusse: Preusse is the founder of the Fake Fighting Company. He is a certified teacher and fight director with the Society of American Fight Directors. Aaron has served as fight director at the Guthrie Theater, the Children's Theatre Company, the Ordway, and the Minnesota Opera, along with many other theaters, universities, and films. Preusse has taught for several institutions including the Saint Paul Conservatory.; Tyler Sassaman: Sassaman is a veteran elementary educator in the Twin Cities, having served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and currently a reading specialist. Outside of school, he is an avid writer, photographer, and musician. His 2018 memoir, Just One Question: A Road Trip Memoir, won the gold medal at the Independent Book Publisher Awards, and his writing regularly appears in The Sun magazine. Sassaman holds a BA in English literature and philosophy from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI) and an EdM in school leadership from Harvard University (Cambridge, MA).