Cultural Expression

Micah Amundsen: Amundsen (they/them) is a freelance illustrator and comic book creator living in Rochester. They graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stout with a BFA in entertainment design and a concentration in comics and sequential art. Their mostly self-published work explores queerness, mental health, and identity. ; Anna Bongiovanni: Bongiovanni is a comic artist living in Minneapolis. They're the creator of the award winning comic, A Quick And Easy Guide To They/Them Pronouns, and have several professionally and independently published works. With a BFA from Minneapolis College of Art And Design, they have worked with local libraries and bookstores creating zine fests, comic reading events, and teaching the art of cartooning to youth. ; Patricia Goggin: Goggin is a performance manager at Hennepin Arts with 14 years of experience in ticketing operations. Growing up with a deep appreciation for all art forms, she began her career in Chicago before moving to Minnesota, where she has worked with the State Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Pantages Theatre, and Broadway Across America. Goggin has also served as president of a local ticketing professionals' organization. Her background underscores her expertise and dedication to the arts community. ; Heather Hamilton: Hamilton has 25 years of professional theater experience as an actor, educator, and director. She has won several honors for her work. She has directed more than 40 fully produced, high budget productions and innumerable smaller ?rough theater? projects. Social justice, inclusion, peacebuilding, and advocacy are key to her artistic mission. Hamilton has volunteered for the Mankato Diversity Council as a classroom facilitator, studied peacebuilding with Cesran International in Turkey, served for six years on the President's Diversity Council for Minnesota State University, Mankato, and has been a volunteer for human rights and equality both in the U. S. and abroad. Her research interests focus on theater as advocacy and performance in war zones.; Lauren Hutchinson: Hutchinson recently moved to Rochester with her husband, who is a medical resident at Mayo Clinic. Hutchinson is a native Midwesterner from Kansas and holds degrees in art history and global studies from the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS). She spent the last five years in New York City working for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hutchinson worked in the Met's development department and comanaged the museum's two highest level donor groups, the Chairman's Council and the International Council. ; Analeise Jarvi-Beamer: Jarvi-Beamer is the art supervisor at Fresh Eye Arts, a nonprofit studio that supports disabled artists in the Twin Cities. She has been an artist and educator in Minnesota for the last nine years and has taught independently and for various organizations, including the Minnesota Textile Center. Jarvi-Beamer graduated from St. Olaf College with a BFA in studio art. ; Mary Johnson: Johnson currently does community engagement work for the Minnesota Orchestra, where she develops collaborations with community partners by coordinating performances, lectures, and exhibitions that strive to eliminate barriers to access to the orchestra. Previously, she was the head of exhibitions for Swissnex in San Francisco, assistant curator at the San Francisco Art Institute, and assistant librarian at the Walker Art Center. She is on the board of the Museum of Danish America. She holds a MA in art history from Richmond University (Richmond, VA) and a MA in humanities from the University of London, Birkbeck College. ; Sherisa Oie: Oie is an arts manager and producer currently serving as executive director at Tapestry Folkdance Center, a producing agent with Black Label Movement, and a project manager with Walker Art Center's performing arts department. Her work in arts management has taken her around the world. Previous employers include the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, San Diego Repertory Theater, and MashUp Contemporary Dance Company. Oie holds a BA in arts, entertainment, and media management from Columbia College Chicago and a nonprofit management certificate from the Center for Nonprofit Management in Southern California. ; Oluwatomini Ola: Ola is a program manager at Restoration for All, Inc, where she leads initiatives connecting African immigrant and refugee communities with essential services. She holds a MPH in global health and a BS in applied science in psychology from St. Catherine University. Ola has extensive experience in community engagement, policy development, and nonprofit management. She has served as an African mental health summit site manager and is recognized for her contributions to mental health and social justice initiatives. Her work has focused on equity, advocacy, and technology driven solutions.