2013 WESTAF Cohort
Danielle Brooks, Colorado
SuJ'n Chon She/Her/Hers, La Conner, Washington
Program Director | North Cascades Institute
SuJ’n Chon is a writer, photographer, curator, multidisciplinary artist, and co-founder of IDEA Odyssey, a visual arts collective for emerging artists whose work intersects with diversity, culture, and identity. She is a programmer for Asian Crossroads with Seattle International Film Festival, the nation’s largest film festival, and recently curated an exhibit on the absurdity of war at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (“the Wing”). Chon served on WESTAF’s Multicultural Advisory Committee and as consultant for the arts offices of the cities of Seattle and Bellevue, 4Culture and ArtsWA, ArtsFund, and the Wing. She currently serves as program director of North Cascades Institute, a nationally recognized environmental education nonprofit operating out of North Cascades National Park. Chon received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New College of Florida and a master’s degree in social work from University of Georgia.
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Affiliations: Programmer, Seattle International Film Festival
Member, Equity and Inclusion Committee, The Mountaineers
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Anastacio Del Real, Las Vegas, Nevada
Special Assistant to Councilwoman Olivia Diaz | City of Las Vegas
Abe Flores, Los Angeles, California
Program Director | IMPACTO
Jadira Gurulé She/Her/Hers, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Curator | NHCC Art Museum
Jadira Gurulé has been a curator at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Art Museum in Albuquerque since 2016. Gurulé has curated exhibitions at the NHCC Art Museum such as: Fantasía Fantástica: Imaginative Spaces and Other-Worldly Collage (2016), Because It’s Time: Unraveling Race and Place in NM (2018), and Qué Chola (2019). Gurulé’s article, “Unraveling Latinx Racial Politics: Museums, Intersectionality, and Art in Conversation,” was recently published in the spring 2020 issue of Chiricú Journal: Latina/o Literatures, Arts and Cultures. In her spare time, she dabbles in collage and visual journaling like her mother, takes lots of walks in the bosque and along the acequias (a habit she inherited from her father), and recently has been enjoying a socially distanced meditation spot by the river. Gurulé was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and received her master’s degree in American studies from the University of New Mexico in 2015, where she focused on visual and popular culture with an emphasis in race, gender, and sexuality—topics that continue to inform her work in the arts.
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Myrlin Hepworth, Arizona
Cindy Im, California
Estria Miyashiro He/Him/His, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
Co-Founder and Executive Director | Estria Foundation
Estria Miyashiro is an internationally recognized mural artist and the co-founder and executive director of the Estria Foundation (TEF), a nonprofit organization. He has partnered with over 150 schools and community organizations, using muralism to deepen people’s connection to place, transform spaces, and strengthen their visual storytelling of important cultural stories, perspectives and values. As a respected teacher to young artists, his programs have served over 7,000 students. Estria launched Mele Murals, an inter-island mural program that serves predominantly Pacific Islander youth and Title One schools. With 60 murals completed, demand for Mele Murals continues to outpace the teamsʻ ability to serve. TEF programs include arts classes at three schools, Mele Murals Summer Program, and Mele Murals Professional Development for working teachers. Estria began painting in Hawai‘i in 1984 and has painted nearly 1,000 murals worldwide. He was an influential leader of the “Golden Age” of writing (1980s) in San Francisco. He pioneered painting techniques and is one of the originators of the stencil tip. Estria’s mural clients include President Clinton, Vodafone, Gansevoort Hotel, Oakland Museum of California, Toyota, MTV, McDonald’s, Sega, Leviʻs, McKesson, Nokia, and the Mills Corporation.
Follow: www.estria.org; @melemurals @estria
Affiliations: University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i State Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools
Skills & Interests: Activism, catching waves, and being a dad.
Robin Mullins, San Diego, California
Program Assistant | UC San Diego Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion
Robin Mullins has more than 25 years of nonprofit arts leadership, event management, membership and audience development, cultivation, and retention experience. Bringing those experiences into executive assistant roles was a natural transition, supporting City Councilwoman Eudaly in Portland, Oregon as executive assistant and cultural policy advisor, and currently at the University of California San Diego’s Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion. Mullins effortlessly manages complex calendars, travel, and day-to-day operations with an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence. She brings a strong commitment to equity and inclusion to every role. Her experience includes director and executive level positions with performing arts organizations in a broad range of disciplines with a heavy focus on touring and presenting. Mullins began her love affair in the arts as a publicist, account executive and production manager for independent music labels. This experience culminated in her founding a company to provide independent promotion, artist development, consultation and event planning.
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Madalena Salazar She/Her/Ella, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Executive Director, Working Classroom; Founder & Principal, 3rd Space Vision
Madalena Salazar is a creative focused on issues of cultural equity. She has extensive experience as a nonprofit administrator; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant; educator/facilitator; organizer; and cultural producer. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director for Working Classroom and is the founder and principal of 3rd Space Vision LLC, and as a community lead for Coffee + Creatives in Albuquerque. Previously, she was the social responsibility and inclusion programs manager for WESTAF. Salazar was born, raised, and resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico (after returning from Denver, Colorado after several important years). She loves music, cooking (and eating), nature, traveling, reading, gardening, and traditional healing modalities. Salazar received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, and a master’s degree in art history from the University of New Mexico. Salazar is most proud of being a mother, and spends her remaining time with her children, husband, and extended and chosen family.
Follow: www.3rdspacevision.com, @3rdspacevision, @madaencantada
Affiliations: Community lead for Coffee + Creatives (ABQ), commissioner for the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund for the City of Albuquerque.
Skills & Interests: Reiki & tarot practitioner, creating home and health products, cultural equity, gardening, music, cooking, ancestral knowledge for envisioning liberated futures.
Rico Lanáat’ Worl He/Him/His, Juneau, Alaska
Designer and Artist
Rico Lanáat’ Worl is a Tlingit/Athabascan social designer and artist with training in anthropology. His work started in developing the arts department at Sealaska Heritage Institute, implementing programs to empower the indigenous artists of Southeast Alaska. The programs focused on developing fundamental skills and access to resources. Through his current ongoing project, Trickster Company, he carries forward the goals of empowering indigenous artists.
Follow: https://trickstercompany.com/
Affiliations: Co-Founder of Trickster Company
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