Central Cohort Participants
Alanna Morris
Alanna Morris is a Brooklyn native and Saint Paul-based dancer, educator and artist organizer. Alanna was a featured performer with TU Dance from 2007-2017 and served as Artistic Associate in 2020. They've been awarded Dance Magazine's 25 to Watch! (2018); Minneapolis' City Pages' Artist of the Year and Best Choreographer (2019); a McKnight Dance Fellowship (2015); and a McKnight Choreographers Fellowship (2021.) They are the Artistic Director of AMVTP, founded in 2017 to produce collaborative solo dance programs, wholistic educational programs and mentorship opportunities for young dance professionals, and community-building initiatives that resource mid-career women creatives. Alanna's favourite food is cow heel soup.
Allison Jones
Allison Jones is an interdisciplinary artist and craftsperson. Currently, she is doing embroidery on salvaged textiles as a practice of slow craft in defiance of capitalist mass production. A few of her favorite themes to work with: memory and history in objects, using organic lines and shapes to explore consonance between living things, feminism, magic and mysticism, and death and rebirth cycles. Her goal is to foster connection through her art and open up space for others to access their own innate creativity. When not creating, you can find Allison devouring horror movies and lavishing affection on her cat.
Angela Zonunpari
Angela Zonunpari is a South Asian (northeast India) immigrant artist and writer living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She has an interdisciplinary practice that includes texts, books, textiles, curation and community-building. Her practice is led by the intention of creating interactions between people; people and ideas; people and art. Angela leans heavily on things she's passionate about and people she admires, which often result in interconnected art objects, writing, ideas, and interactions. Coming from a small tribal community, she has been drawn to deep storytelling and capturing processes and ideas in the making of art and customs. This has filtered into art practices she has built for herself, which currently are in the space of publishing and textiles.
Awanigiizhik Bruce
Awanigiizhik Bruce (They/Them) is a Two-spirit artist from the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in ND. Awanigiizhik (uh-WUH-nih-KEY-shick) which means Foggy-Cedar in Ojibwe. Awanigiizhik is an accomplished diverse media artist, poet, Tribal community leader, strategic planner, networker, tour guide and volunteer.
Azania Tripp
Whimsical one-of-a-kind joy is the magical superpower you will receive by wearing wearable art. I'm Azania Tripp (She/her), I make mixed media collage one-of-a-kind wearable art and visual art pieces out of recyclable material. When I make wearable art pieces, I get to create my own utopian world where I can show that I am a person that holds many intersectionalities of being Black/ African American, Singaporean Eurasian, pansexual, woman and more. The wearable art pieces, tell a story of my historical trauma and how afro-futurism and joy is my center for healing.
Christy M Goulet
Boozhoo (Hello in Ojibwe), Wiishkobizi Nibi Ikwe (To be sweet like the water women) is my Indigenous name, and my English name is Christy Goulet. I am a tribaly enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. I strive for cultural preservation and education and am grateful that I try to live my traditional lifestyle and teach it to my family. Also, I am equally grateful to have been adopted by Wanbli Ishnala Win/Anna LittleGhost and gone through ceremonial rite of passage which includes the Sundance, Vision Quest, Naming ceremony etc. I love teaching Indigenous Dreamcatchers classes, Traditional chockers, Music and Meditation, and Frybread cooking classes! I have lived in the F-M area my whole life, except for four years when I moved to Devils Lake, ND to mentor under Wanbli Ishnala Win/Anna Littleghost on how to conduct women's traditional indigenous ceremonies/teachings.
Dustina Gill
Dustina Gill, Sitomni Sa Yapi Win, Paints Red Around Her, hails from the Wahpekute band of the Oceti Sakowin and is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in the northeast corner of South Dakota on the Lake Traverse Reservation.
As a lifelong advocate of Native youth, Dustina established Nis'to Incorporated, a Native nonprofit organization. Nis'to, a Dakota word that means "concern for others outside of ourselves," does cultural resilience-based work with youth in the areas of healing through art.
Elliza Mollman
Elliza Mollman is a teenage unschooler, organizer, artist, and justice nerd from the prairie. She is the co-founder and Hub Coordinator of Sunrise Vermillion, a local Hub of the Sunrise Movement, a national youth led climate justice organization. She is a gardener, sewist, baker, musician, theater maker, and eclectic craftsperson, and currently works at the W.H. Over Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Vermillion Public Library. Elliza lives on a pretend farm a few miles north of Vermillion, SD, with her parents, sibling, two dogs, several chickens, and a scary looking but sweet cat.
Geraldine Ambe
Headshot and bio coming soon!
Gunner Carlson
Gunnar Carlson is a lifelong Minnesotan. After earning his Masters in Public Affairs from the Humphrey School of Minnesota he was a member of the initial Leadership in Affordable Housing Cohort at Hamline University. These experiences led Gunnar to join Riverton Community Housing as their Engagement Manager. When not enjoying working with members of the seven Co-Op housing communities he serves, Gunnar spends time advocating for access and representation in the outdoors. He also serves as president of the MN Off Road Cyclists and is a trustee of the board for the Voyageurs Outward Bound School.
Hedy Tripp
Hedy Tripp is a poet excitedly exploring lyrical memoir. She draws on her rich life experiences as an Asian American, Singaporean Eurasian immigrant, breast cancer survivor, and wife, mother and grandmother to a fiercely social justice activist Black and multicultural family. She writes because she loves words, imagination, fiction and non-fiction, and wants to leave a written legacy of her memories for her family. A fun fact: She has an adult tricycle that she leisurely rides for exercise, shopping, and fun - She never learnt to ride a two-wheeler!
Jeni O’Malley
Jeni O'Malley is a physical experience designer. She designs for museums, theaters, and for community events. Her work has always focused on community and culture with a focus on the space we inhabit. Jeni is curious about people, and loves to uncover human motivations. In Jeni's work, collaborators lead the direction of her projects and she makes sure the path is clear of obstacles and makes the process enjoyable to participate in. Part teacher, part artist, and part project manager her favorite way to make art is together.
Jt ShiningOne Side
Boozhoo. Ndiznikaaz Jt ShiningOne Side. Gaadashi Anishinaabe gaag Doonji. Mikinaak Wajiw Ishkoonigan . Jt was born and raised in Dunseith, North Dakota on a horse ranch. She was taught Anishinaabe lifeways and pipe way of life from Mishomis "A Musical Voice who was her greatest influencer in life. . She has been in education for 33 years as a teacher. Jt loves to Jingle dress dance, do beadwork on cloth, birch bark biting, and make sweet grass baskets. She enjoys sewing and weaving because it helps me feel rooted and connected to my late mother who taught me to sew. While at gathering at home Jt learned about birchbark biting and sweetgrass baskets. She has taught students how to make sweetgrass baskets and the birchbark biting. She applied to the CCLI Cohort to gain experience and lasting friendships to enhance her life as a person, mother and grandmother. She's excited to begin this new chapter in her life. Miigwech.
Judy Larson
Judy Larson has a deep passion for her community. Her diverse background in healthcare, economic development, art, placemaking and asset-based community development shape her vocation as a Communityist. She believes in creating opportunity and empowering individuals through collaboration and mentorship. She loves to use her talents to help her rural community be bold and creative as they work to implement a framework that allows them to thrive.
Kayla Schmidt
Kayla Schmidt is a freelance writer, amateur entertainer, podcast addict, vintage paperback collector, rabble-rouser, and community advocate. Kayla grew up in Minot, North Dakota (known as "The Magic City"). She spent a year in Norwich, England (known as "A Fine City") where she earned her MA in Creative Nonfiction and Biography Writing. She lives in Bismarck ("Adjective City"?), where she volunteers with approximately a gazillion groups. As a writer, Kayla loves to craft essays that investigate the mundane, yet universal realities of the Midwest. On eight wheels, she's known as "Rhubarbarian" with the BisMan Bombshellz roller derby team.
Kurtis L Moose
Mr. Moose is considered a "Knowledge keeper" in his community/Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the Fargo-Moorhead area. Mr Moose as a "Knowledge keeper" is respected as he knows his Ojibwe language, traditions, songs, dance, foods, and medicines and assists his communities when asked. He also takes initiative to go to events when they are taking place in the communities, and is asked often to help with funerals and hospital visits to pray (Share healing songs) with elder's/families.
Lindsey Audrey
After spending the majority of the past 20 years in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and New York City pursuing her artistic dreams, Lindsey has returned to where she was born, in Hibbing, MN, raising her 9 year old son. As a Perpich Center for the Arts graduate, Lindsey pursued her passion in acting and music as a profession while working in a variety of positions, gathering the skills necessary to hold her current role of developing the Youth Arts Program at The Lyric Center for Arts in Virginia, MN. At the Lyric, Lindsey also assists the Executive Director in fulfilling their overall mission of bringing a stronger presence of arts and culture to the Mesabi Range. Currently working towards a degree in Psychology/Art Therapy, she intends to bring her experiences towards building stronger mental health support systems and successful futures for underserved youth in rural areas.
Maria Ervasti
Maria Ervasti is an artist, educator, and arts advocate living in rural Minnesota. Maria graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Bachelor of Science in K-12 Art Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She has been teaching art to a variety of ages and demographics for the past decade in both the private and public sector. Maria enjoys the therapeutic properties of creating art and believes that everyone should have access to the joy that it brings.
Matthew Wuorinen
Headshot and bio coming soon!
Nancy Devine
Nancy Devine is a retired teacher, writer, and learner. She enjoys hanging out with her husband and their dog, inside and out. Though she no longer works outside her home, she got the option of being busy every day, simply because there is so much interesting to do in the world. Lastly, she loves ketchup.
not_hideuhs
Not_Hideuhs is a self taught artist influenced by graffiti, street art and clip art. He is the first Resident Artist for Epic Events, an independent arts and entertainment promoter based out of West Fargo, ND. He has also been a part of the Fargo art scene for nearly a decade where he has taught workshops, camps and led a free Drawing Club.
Seraphia Gravelle (Aguallo)
A Hispanic native of Central Texas, Seraphia moved to Minnesota in 1998 and now resides in Chisholm, MN where she chairs the Chisholm Indian Education Program Parent Committee. She is passionate about equity and ant-racism work as Co-Executive Director of VEMA and Community Equity & Anti-Racism Organizer for KOOTASCA Community Action in Grand Rapids, MN. Her hope is to create an all inclusive, anti-racist community on the Iron Range.
Shawna Marion
Shawna has been an educator for over 20 years in a variety of roles, in southwest ND while residing in Flasher for 27 years. She has been an active member on the Park Board for over 15 years and passionate about affording the rural community with access to the arts, and coordinating events that promote an active/healthy lifestyle. It was during her two year involvement with Turn Around Arts ND, she realized the capacity and impact that the arts have not only in a school, but the broader community. In 2018, she pursued an Arts Integration Specialist credential . Shawna is an art club advisor for her local high school, and has become convinced that limited access to the arts is detrimental. Shawna finds her peace on the prairie with her four adult children, husband and two dogs.
Steven Lemke
Steven Lemke uses digital fabrication technology to speak to issues of land use, architectural production and community.
He holds an MFA in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame, where his scholarship and teaching have been honored through the Riley Prize in Art Criticism and the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Honorable Mention for Excellence in Teaching. He has received funding from the College Art Association, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Central Minnesota Arts Board, and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. In 2019-2020, Lemke was awarded a U.S. Fulbright Research Fellowship in Sculpture, examining concrete bloc housing in the former Czechoslovakia.
Lemke currently serves as Environmental Artist-in-Residence at Saint John's University and Associate Director of the Saint John's Pottery in Collegeville, Minnesota.