2024-25 National Cohort: Mid Atlantic Arts

Celestina Billington | Southold, New York

Arts Programs and Events Coordinator, Long Island’s North Fork

Celestina Billington is a New York-based multidisciplinary artist, activist, producer and arts administrator with an international portfolio. She is the arts programs and events coordinator on Long Island’s North Fork and holds a master’s degree in arts administration from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Billington has over a decade of experience in the field, with exhibition credits worldwide. Her projects aim to connect diverse communities with exploratory and innovative artworks. Her work reflects a commitment to inclusivity, thoughtfulness and equity.

Originally from Texas, Billington, who identifies as “Tejana”, has mixed-race ancestry.

Zach Blackwood | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Program Officer, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage

Zach Blackwood is a Philadelphia-based arts administrator and writer known for his contributions to social practice performance production and arts philanthropy. From 2017 to 2021, he worked at FringeArts, where he produced the curated slate of performances for the annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival. During his tenure, he also launched three new performing arts programs for the organization: the Blue Heaven Comedy Festival, Hand to Hand Circus, and High Pressure Fire Service, an incubator for new theatrical works by Philadelphia-based artists.

Since 2021, Blackwood has served as a program officer at the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, a multidisciplinary arts and culture grantmaker that distributes $10 million annually across the Philadelphia region. His role focuses on advising arts organizations as they build or strengthen relationships with historically marginalized communities, with an emphasis on fostering community connection and audience participation.

Blackwood is also an author with two chapbooks to his name: Ultra-Fine, published by Blush Lit, and Sexy Unique Hollow Point, an apocryphal reality TV workbook, released by Glo Worm Press.

When he’s not working, Blackwood enjoys collecting 1:24-scale miniatures and spending time with his hound dog, Hammer.

Lisa Brown | Greenbelt, Maryland

Artistic Director, Northwest Film Forum

Lisa Brown is a multidisciplinary artist and storyteller whose work spans analog photography, sculpture, and community engagement. Born into a rich heritage of African and Mexican cultures, she draws inspiration from the resilience, beauty and complexities of these histories. Her art explores themes of healing, self-discovery, and cultural preservation, creating spaces for reflection and transformation.

Brown’s passion for photography was sparked by her grandfather’s street photography and an early fascination with the darkroom, where she discovered the magic of shaping stories with light. Over time, her practice grew to include sculpture and ethnographic approaches, allowing her to connect with communities and honor their histories. From documenting the lives of women in Baltimore prisons to capturing the spirit of children in northern Ghana, Brown’s work amplifies overlooked voices and celebrates cultural resilience.

Currently pursuing an MFA in community arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art, she combines academic studies with fieldwork and mentorship. Her contributions have been recognized by institutions such as the Pittsburgh Art Society and the Dayton Art Institute. She has also benefited from transformative fellowships, including mentorship under Titus Brooks Heagins, which have helped her deepen her practice.

Brown’s work focuses on healing — both personal and collective. Through photography and sculpture, she bridges cultural and generational divides, exploring shared human experiences. Her initiative, Heal Her Photography, reflects her commitment to capturing and honoring stories that inspire connection, understanding and transformation.

Anne Choi | Bedminster, New Jersey

Owner, Middlebrook Fiberworks

Anne Choi is a fiber artist raising a small flock of Shetland sheep in Bedminster, New Jersey. She owns Middlebrook Fiberworks, which offers small-batch, custom-milled yarns made from the wool of her sheep. She teaches weaving, spinning and dyeing for regional fiber arts guilds, museums, and fiber festivals. Her workshops highlight the global heritage of textile handicrafts that predates colonization and honor the cultural legacies of traditional artisans. Her teaching emphasizes the use of natural, biodegradable materials and ecologically sustainable practices.

Choi is the founder and executive director of NJ Fibershed, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization dedicated to nurturing a diverse, equitable community of fiber producers and crafters committed to sustainable textile arts. Through public programs and events, NJ Fibershed fosters connections and provides support, particularly for current and aspiring first-generation farmers in New Jersey.

Shawné Michaelain Holloway | Richmond, Virginia

Executive Director, Netizen.org

Shawné Michaelain Holloway is a new media artist and the executive director of Netizen.org. She also serves as an assistant professor of kinetic imaging at Virginia Commonwealth University. With 11 years of leadership experience in the arts, her work spans organizing DIY electronics performances, presenting solo exhibitions at institutions such as Performance Space New York, and managing back-end systems for the artists’ library-archive Black Lunch Table. Her interdisciplinary practice centers on researching and honoring Black and LGBTQIA+ legacies while fostering sustainable, equitable innovation in software for experimental digital arts. Current programming she leads includes The P.A.T.C.H. (Providing Accessible Tech Community Histories) Clinic and The Media Arts Educators Exchange Group.

Holloway splits her time between Richmond, Virginia, and Chicago, Illinois. She supports organizations such as The Processing Foundation, where she was a 2024 fellowship mentor, and the Clinic for Open Source Arts, where she co-founded the Open Source Arts Contributor’s Conference and Community Leaders Program. She is an alumna of Shimer College, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA, Fine Arts), and Parsons Paris (MFA, Design and Technology). Outside of work, Holloway enjoys fencing and indulging in fine desserts.

Jamila Jones | Martinsburg, West Virginia

CEO and Founder, Innovative Community Solutions

Jamila Jones, an Appalachian Regional Commission ALI alumnus, is a dedicated advocate for cultural preservation, community empowerment, and inclusive economic development. Committed to bridging heritage and progress, Jones has led transformative projects such as the Affrilachian Trail initiative, which combines African American cultural preservation, sustainable tourism, and workforce development into a scalable, multistate model.

At the center of the Affrilachian Trail is the historic Weaver-Gillison House in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which serves as the trailhead for this ambitious effort. By preserving this African American heritage site and fostering a tourism ecosystem, the project showcases how local action can create regional impact. Through strategic partnerships and frameworks such as Wealth Works value chain development, the initiative highlights underrepresented cultural assets and generates economic opportunities for marginalized communities across Appalachia.

By integrating workforce development into the project, Jones is nurturing the next generation of preservationists and engineers while fostering collaboration across states to build community resilience. Focused on equity, education, and empowerment, Jones continues to lead initiatives that celebrate Appalachia’s rich cultural diversity and potential, advancing a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Paul Marengo | Washington, District of Columbia

Arts Administrator

Paul Marengo, a dedicated Hispanic arts administrator, is committed to supporting the arts within the Latinx and African American communities. With extensive experience in the arts and nonprofit sectors, Marengo has been a key advocate for equitable funding and opportunities for artists from diverse backgrounds.

In addition to his work in arts advocacy, Marengo serves as a board member of Action Youth Media, a nonprofit organization that creates safe spaces for youth voices, empowers young leaders, and amplifies their creative expression. He has also contributed to the professional growth of artists through his teaching role with Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, where he educates artists on grant writing and fundraising, helping them secure resources to bring their projects to fruition.

Marengo’s mission is to ensure all artists, particularly those from underrepresented communities, have the financial support and opportunities needed to realize their creative visions. His leadership and advocacy focus on advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity in the arts.

Maria Roberta Duarte Miranda | Dorado, Puerto Rico

Co-Founder and Principal, El Barrio Fest

María Roberta Duarte Miranda, co-founder and principal of El Barrio Fest, is a dedicated advocate for community transformation through the arts. Her work draws from her expertise in public health, education, entrepreneurship, economic development, and cultural curation. Originally from Paraguay and now based in Puerto Rico, Duarte Miranda co-founded El Barrio Fest with artist Dalisamel Rivera Goitía. The festival celebrates Puerto Rican and Latino heritage through music, arts, and education, inspiring cultural pride, elevating emerging artists and leaders, and fostering intergenerational economic growth and connection across Cleveland, Puerto Rico, and beyond.

Duarte Miranda’s career spans strategic venture development, arts in medicine, and transformative leadership. She has integrated arts and culture into community engagement, serving on leadership boards such as the Young Latino Network, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Canalway Partners, and LatinUs Theater Co. A proud Mount Holyoke College alumna, she was recognized as one of Crain’s Cleveland “40 Under 40” honorees and completed notable programs like VC University and Cleveland Bridge Builders.

Guided by her multicultural roots, Duarte Miranda views art as a catalyst for meaningful social change. Her vision is to position El Barrio Fest as a global platform for creative collaboration and community-driven transformation.

AliShah Watson | Wilmington, Delaware

Founder and Executive Director, Culture Restoration Project Inc.,

AliShah Watson, an educator and cultural advocate, is committed to uplifting communities through culturally centered, transformative programming. She is the founder and executive director of Culture Restoration Project Inc., an African-centered arts and culture nonprofit that serves nearly 500 youth annually by fostering positive self-identification and cultural pride.

A graduate of the University of Delaware, Watson earned bachelor’s degrees in Africana studies and English-ethnic and cultural studies. Her academic foundation informs her work, blending scholarly insight with hands-on community initiatives. Under her leadership, the acclaimed Beyond Those Bars program leverages hip-hop as a tool for character development, cultural awareness, and self-empowerment. By integrating African-centered values, the program equips youth to tackle societal challenges, build confidence, and achieve academic and personal success. Another initiative, Knowledge of Self, fosters self-awareness and community engagement by connecting students to their heritage while addressing systemic inequality.

Watson contributed to Delaware’s HB 198, which mandates Black history curricula in K–12 schools, and previously served on the University of Delaware’s Africana Studies Advisory Board. She has been honored with the 2024 HER Legacy Award and recognized as a Delaware Business Times “40 Under 40” honoree. Watson remains dedicated to driving meaningful change through education, arts, and cultural advocacy.