Together, Creative Generation and the International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) are pleased to welcome the 2023-24 cohort of the Young & Emerging Leaders Forum.
The Young & Emerging Leaders Forum (YELF) is a year-long program designed to establish a peer-to-peer network of young and emerging professionals within the fields of culture, education, and social change. Jointly hosted by Creative Generation and ITAC, YELF builds from a 2020-21 pilot program. The program will recognize young practitioners from across the fields and be responsive to the needs of the cohort, fostering a collaborative learning environment based in critical reflection intended to interrogate, mutually share and learn, and radically reimagaine future possibilities of one’s work.
YELF's 2023-24 cohort is comprised of young change makers from around the globe representing various artistic practices. This year's kickoff meeting took place on August 3rd.
Throughout the year, this time will allow the members an opportunity to begin forming relationships and lift up their passions shared for…
Arts Advocacy: identifying different ways to advocate for the field of teaching/community-engaged artistry
Arts for Social Change: cultivating ways of using the arts as a form of social justice,
Arts and Technology: discussing the impact of technology across the field
Community Engagement and Mobilization: finding ways to deepen connections with existing and new communities served.
Meet the Cohort
Ridhi Aggarwal (She/Her), India
David Kweku Adom Ankamah (He/Him), Accra, Ghana
Joseph Babatunde (He/Him), Lagos state, Nigeria
Shyheim Banks (He/They), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
K. Alejandra Barahona (She/Her), Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Anthony Caruso (He/Him/They/Them), New Jersey, USA
Ornella Chellen (She/Her), Mauritius, Indian Ocean
Isaac Chitenta (He/Him), Livingstone City, Zambia
Paige Dirkes-Jacks (She/Her/They/Them), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Rosakebia Liliana Estela Mendoza (He/Him), Chiclayo, Peru
C. Meranda Flachs-Surmanek (They/Them), Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Carly Fulcher (She/Her), Fort Myers, Florida, USA
Elissar Ghannam (She/Her), Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, Ain w Zein
Kristian Glomnes (He/Him), Norway
Nicolle Herrera (She/Her), Colombia
Nuhu Ibrahim kankia (He/Him), Katsina State, Nigeria
Madalitso Juwayeyi (She/Her), Blantyre, Malawi
Haniyyah Khan (She/Her), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Steven T. Licardi (He/Him), Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Benjamin Livoi (He/Him), Mombasa, Kenya
Raghavendra Madhu (He/Him), Guwahati, Assam, India
Bea Makan (She/Her), Edinburgh, Scotland
Mankaba Matela (She/Her), Maseru, Lesotho
Taku Mbudzi (She/Her), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Chloe McHardy (She/Her), Edinburgh, Scotland
Abueng Mkhonza (She/Her), Soweto, South Africa
Frédérick Moreau (He/Him), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Asuka Morinaga Derfler (She/Her), New York, New York, USA
Idd Mwachinago (He/Him), Kenya
Timothy Njuguna (He/Him), Nairobi, Kenya
María Fernanda Ocampo Villava (She/Her), Mexico
Geofrey Odhiambo (He/Him), Mombasa City, Kenya
Victoria Olanike Omoloye (She/Her), Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
Nadia (Akyaa) Otoo (She/Her), Accra, Ghana
Jacqueline Raymond Wegman (She/Her), Astoria, New York, USA
Rich Richards (He/Him), Kingston, Jamaica
Joseph Roberts (He/Him), Cardiff, Wales
Caleb Salifu (He/Him), Accra, Ghana
Sanjeewa Senavirathne (He/Him), Sri Lanka, Colombo
David Tann (He/Him), London, UK
Carmel Torres (She/Her), Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
Marc Neil Valenciano (He/Him), City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Region III, Philippines
Juan Yanqui (He/Him), Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador