Fargo Cohort Participants

Ana Rusness-Petersen

Ana N. Rusness-Petersen, founder and owner of Ana Noelle Creative Productions (ananoelleproductions.com), has worked as an arts leader, theatrical producer, and creative placemaker for two decades. Ana serves as the Block 9 Broadway Square Plaza Manager (Fargo). She is currently working on publishing an article on the emerging concept of "Internal Creative Placemaking" and a case study on the historic Neptune Theatre she wrote is being published as part of the Arts Ecosystem Research Project.

Brandi Malarkey

Brandi Malarkey believes that we are surrounded by tiny miracles, and likes to focus on those in her work. Currently a self-employed artist focusing on nature, she works in a variety of mediums depending on her goals. When pressed she describes herself as a professional dabbler, semi-compulsive organizer, and occasional hot mess.

Chanda Kraft

Chanda Kraft is a visual artist living in Alexandria, MN with her husband and two kids. She works en plein air and in studio creating landscapes, wildlife, botanical and still life art in oils, watercolor or drawing mediums. Chanda is interested in bringing new art classes and visual art awareness to her community through collaboration with local businesses and organizations.

Chelsea Steffes

Chelsea Steffes is a young professional passionate about the incorporation of the arts into everyday life. Inspired by the multitudes of art forms that exist across the globe, she has a particular interest in the role culture and identity plays in art. She hopes to create environments where all culture, identity, and art forms can be incorporated and respected.

Dr. Denise Lajimodiere

Dr. Denise Lajimodiere is a retired Educational Leadership Associate Professor, NDSU. She is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, Belcourt, ND. Denise is a writer, poet, scholar and traditional Jingle dress dancer living in a cozy cottage by Fish Lake on the Turtle Mountain reservation, ND.

Rachel Prazak

Rachel is the Community Relations Coordinator at the Downtown Community Partnership. Equipped with a Hospitality & Tourism Management degree and past tourism experience, Rachel is excited to be apart of the placemaking process in Downtown Fargo. When she’s not trying to complete her mission to visit every National Park, you can find her kayaking or browsing the stacks at a local bookstore.

Nicole Gagner

Nicole Gagner is a teaching artist living and working in Bismarck, North Dakota. She splits her time between painting colorful, brushy work in her studio or from nature and teaching art in the community to students of all ages and abilities across North Dakota. Nicole believes strongly that art is for everyone and is passionate about making engaging art experiences available for all.

Rebecca Dallinger

Rebecca’s community organizing has focused on rural arts development in Northern Minnesota where she creates experiential environments that inspire the interconnectedness of culture, art and natural wellness. While at the White Earth Tribal and Community College Extension Service in Mahnomen, MN, she grew collaborative community circles based on relationship and shared teaching. She is currently Curator-in-Residence for The Big River Continuum at the Itasca Biological Station and the Target Studio for Creative Collaboration at the Weisman Art Museum.

Rachel Asleson

Rachel, co-owner of Reach Partners, is a resourceful addition to any project as a project manager, meeting and event designer and facilitator. She brings her own curiosity, process and communication skills to the table. She continues to be influenced by those who are willing to see, uplift, and nurture the humanity in others.