Grantees & Fellows

Amanda King is a classic singer of standards and jazz, celebrated as a true chanteuse with a straight-ahead style steeped in tradition.

Praised by The New York Times critic Stephen Holden as one of the nightclub world’s “exceptional rising talents,” King dives deep into the treasure trove of musical history, honoring the stories, songs, and legends that shaped the rich tapestry of early American popular music and jazz.

Having recently made her international debut, she is currently touring across the United States, captivating audiences with her smooth voice and confident style. Her performances, infused with the sophistication of a bygone era while resonating with contemporary vibrancy, have earned her the affectionate moniker “Las Vegas’ Queen of Swing.”

In 2024, she was featured on “Standards Deluxe,” an album by the Rob Dixon/Steve Allee Quintet. The record spent 18 weeks on the JazzWeek Top 50 chart.

Hakeem Furious (Andre Carbonell) is a wordsmith from Jacksonville, Florida, with roots in the Rocky Mountains. He graduated from a Southern performing arts high school as a theater major and developed a passion for words through the spoken word community at Florida A&M University, a historically Black college and university that deepened his understanding, appreciation, and preservation of Black culture and resilience.

Currently, he travels the country performing poetry and comedy, curating shows, and writing curriculum and grants as CEO of the #UltraTerrestrialTour.

Angelica Trimble-Yanu, born and raised in Oakland, California, is an enrolled member of the Oglála Lakȟóta Sioux Nation from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking from the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Trimble-Yanu’s work has been exhibited at venues including the De Young Museum, MarinMOCA, and the Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello during the 2022 Venice Art Biennale. That same year, she was nominated for the SFMOMA SECA Award following her first solo exhibition, BLACK SUN, at San Francisco’s MRKT Gallery.

Her interdisciplinary and community-based practice has led to numerous public residencies and artist talks with institutions such as Google, the De Young Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art SF, the Berkeley Art Center, the Museum of Archaeology at South Alabama University, Oregon State University, and Santa Clara University.

Anpa’o Locke is an Afro-Indigenous writer, filmmaker, and curator. She is Húŋkpapȟa Lakota and Ahtna Dené (Village of Tazlina), born in the Standing Rock Nation and now residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She was a 2023 Native Lab Fellow and a 2022 Full Circle Fellow at the Sundance Institute, where she developed her upcoming short film, “Kawá,” which follows an Afro-Indigenous teen reconnecting with her Native roots. Her work is focused on amplifying Indigenous narratives in cinema.

In 2023, Locke co-curated “Imagining Indigenous Cinema” at the UCLA Film & Television Archive. This groundbreaking series showcased more than 40 films by U.S.-based Indigenous artists in the post-Standing Rock era. She has also worked as a writer for PBS Digital Studios’ “Sovereign Innovations” and as an associate producer for Best Case Studios.

Bruna Massadas (b. 1985, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a painter based in Bozeman, Montana. Her work has recently been exhibited at de boer, Los Angeles; The Pit, Los Angeles; Bozomag, Los Angeles; My Pet Ram, New York; McClain Gallery, Houston; and Gallery 16, San Francisco.

Massadas has also participated in two-person shows with Raymie Iadevaia at Bozomag and Daniel Gibson at Some.Time.Salon. From 2018 to 2021, she exhibited with Binder of Women, and from 2016 to 2018, she was a member of the CTRL+SHFT collective.

Massadas earned her MFA from California College of the Arts.

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Camas Logue is a multidisciplinary artist and an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes, representing the Ewksiknii, Modokish, and Numu people. Logue’s practice spans painting, carving, graphic design, and performance art.

Candice “Primitiva” Muna is a native Chamorro music artist, cultural practitioner, educator, and pottery artist whose work bridges the ancient and contemporary. Rooted in her Indigenous heritage and ancestral wisdom, she weaves stories through music and clay, creating powerful expressions of identity, memory, and resilience. Her music blends ancient-inspired Chamorro chant with original contemporary songwriting, representing a new era of Chamorro music.

One of her original works, “I Maga’håga” (2022), exemplifies this combination of ancient chant and modern Chamorro folk music.

As a cultural preservationist and educator, Primitiva is dedicated to nurturing the next generation by passing on traditions of Chamorro music and ancient Marianas redware pottery while honoring the practices of the past. Whether performing on stage or shaping clay, she creates with intention, embodying spirit, purpose, and cultural continuity through every medium.

CarlaDean is a cultural advocate and mentor of Indigenous sciences who follows the gathering and harvesting cycles of the four seasons. She is a steward of the land and waterways. A lifelong educator and learner, she attended the American Indian Language Development Institute at the University of Arizona and the Northwest Indian Language Institute at the University of Oregon.

In 2003, she received her American Indian language teacher license to teach the Northern Paiute language in public schools in Oregon. She shares Northern Paiute cultural legacies through written works, radio, and various multimedia visuals.

Caldera attended the National Breath of Life Archival Institute for Indigenous Languages in 2010 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., to advance her research and growth as a preserver of language and cultural legacies archives.

She was awarded an Oregon Fields Artist Fellowship for 2021-23.

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Cheryl Derricotte is a visual artist whose favorite medium is glass. She also creates work on paper and textiles. Her art has been featured in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The San Francisco Chronicle.

Derricotte is currently working on public art projects in the Midwest and the West. She was recently named a 2024 Emerging Public Artist at the international CODAworx Summit. In 2021, she was awarded a commission to develop a monument to Harriet Tubman at the transit-oriented Gateway at Millbrae Station. The piece is the first sculptural tribute to the abolitionist made in glass.

In 2024 and 2025, she served as a visiting artist at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, alongside her participation in the groundbreaking exhibition “A Two Way Mirror: Double Consciousness in Contemporary Glass by Black Artists.” Prior to her work at the Museum of Glass, Cheryl was the Spring 2024 Marva and John Warnock Artist-in-Residence at the University of Utah’s Department of Art and Art History.

claire barrera is an artist based in Portland, Oregon. Their dance career extends 34 years, and they are extensively trained in ballet, modern and postmodern technique. They have created and produced their work since 2010, and have received multiple grants and residencies, most recently via Regional Arts and Cultural Council, Caldera Arts and Chapel Theater. They have performed in the work of many artists, including Allie Hankins, Linda Austin and Sam Hamilton. 

barrera’s work is multi-disciplinary and includes voice and writing. They’ve been involved in DIY punk art and social justice since they were an angry 12 year old in D.C. They co-edit the zine When Language Runs Dry: A Zine for People with Chronic Pain and Their Allies, which was anthologized by Mend My Dress Press (2020). Other writings include their zine el lenguaje nos gusta y nos confunde and an essay in Cindy Milstein’s anthology Constellations of Care  (Pluto Press, 2024).

Courtney Ozaki-Durgin is the founder of the Japanese Arts Network, a national resource dedicated to uplifting and advancing the work of Japanese artists and culture in America while amplifying marginalized voices and narratives. She is also the creative producer for Off-Center, the immersive theater arm of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and works as an independent creative producer.

Ozaki-Durgin holds an MFA in performing arts management from Brooklyn College and has produced new and touring works with The Joyce Theater in New York City. She is a board member of the Western Arts Alliance, where she co-founded Hyphen+Asian, a collective and community space for the AAPINH artists and administrators in the field.

Currently serving on the advisory board for the Creative Independent Producers Alliance, Ozaki-Durgin was also the recipient of the 2024 JEDI Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture. She is passionate about integrating ideas and fostering interdependence across arts sectors.

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Dakota Camacho creates multidisciplinary expressions of Matao/CHamoru worldview. Weaving movement, chant, film, prayer, altar-making, music, and community organizing, guiya (they) generates moments of connection with self, others, spirit, and the natural world. Exploring the intersections of integrity, ancestral and Indigenous life ways, true love, and accountability, guiya (they) strives to walk the path of inafa’maolek, or balance and harmony with all of life.

Yo’ña (their) work establishes spaces where multiple worlds and ways of knowing, being, and doing engage with one another to uncover embodied pathways toward collective liberation.

Damilola Afolabi is a passionate educator, licensed minister, and dynamic entertainer. With a deep love for fostering connections, he has a unique ability to bring people together through inspirational teaching, officiating heartfelt ceremonies, and curating joyful celebrations.

A cultural enthusiast inspired by African rhythms and dance, Afolabi is currently developing a family-oriented African dance class in Redding, California. The program aims to strengthen bonds between parents and children while celebrating rich cultural traditions.

Known for his creativity, warmth, and dedication to building meaningful relationships, Afolabi brings energy and purpose to every endeavor. He focuses on bridging cultural divides through vibrant performances, family-centered programs, and community events. Events he hosts include AfroLatino Night at The Park on the first Friday of each month, along with occasional cultural festivals.

Instagram: @afolabi_damilola, @afrolatinonights

Darrell Mckinney is a Washington-based interdisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersections of design, art, and architecture. His practice examines how design can address the complexities of politics, race, and social infrastructure by highlighting the interconnectedness of history, people, and places.

He earned a Master of Design from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His work has been featured in exhibitions at EXPO Chicago and internationally at Salone Del Mobile in Milan, Spazio Rossana Orlandi, and the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Mckinney was the inaugural recipient of The Current, an Artist Award at the Tacoma Art Museum (2022). He has also received several honors, including the Greg Kucera & Larry Yocom Fellowship Award (2022), the A Tale of Today Emerging Artist Fellowship for the Richard H. Driehaus Museum (2019), and the Hilltop Lasting Legacy Fellowship (2020).

Golga Oscar, a Yup’ik artist from Southwest Alaska, creates work that reflects Yup’ik identity in both traditional and modern forms. Influenced by his Yup’ik ancestors and Indigenous artists across Turtle Island, Oscar is a self-taught artist who has crafted a variety of garments, including footwear and headwear.

Living in a Western society, he challenges perceptions of what a Yup’ik lifestyle looks like. Oscar also focuses on digital art, such as graphic design and digital photography. Through an Indigenous perspective, his goal is to Indigenize Western spaces, fostering an environment that welcomes current and future Native artists while addressing the ongoing challenges of Western assimilation.

Ibrahima “Soriba” Fofana, born and raised in Conakry, Guinea, grew up immersed in the rich traditions of Manding music. Under the guidance of esteemed mentors, he mastered the djembe, dundun, traditional dance, songs, and the eight-string n’goni, a symbol of his heritage.

In 2009, Soriba moved to the United States, dedicating himself to teaching and performing West African music and dance. He founded the Wassa Drum & Dance Ensemble in 2010, showcasing the vibrancy of Guinean traditions. He also organizes the annual Wassa Wassa African Dance & Drum Festival in Santa Fe, fostering cultural exchange through workshops and performances.

Soriba is committed to preserving and sharing Guinea’s musical heritage, educating audiences about its cultural significance. His performances celebrate life, community, and the unifying power of music. By honoring his ancestors and inspiring future generations, he ensures these traditions remain vibrant and thriving.

Isaac Lucero is a Xicano tattoo and multimedia artist from southwest Denver who incorporates his culture, community, and family into every aspect of his work. Specializing in black-and-gray tattooing, his style is heavily influenced by graffiti, Chicano heritage, and the storytelling traditions of his ancestors. For more than 15 years, he has been creating art that not only decorates skin but also reflects identity and resilience.

Outside the tattoo studio, Lucero is committed to giving back to his community. He collaborates with local nonprofits in Westwood, mentoring and working with youth and donating his time to ensure the next generation has access to creativity and cultural expression. Whether through ink, murals, or mentorship, he views his art as a tool for empowerment.

At the core of his work is his family. A devoted husband and father, Lucero balances his passion for art with his dedication to being present for his loved ones. He currently works out of a private studio in Arvada, Colorado.

Jada Renée Allen is a writer, educator, and culture worker from Chicago’s South Side. She has received fellowships, scholarships, and support from Tin House, the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, Community of Writers, The Frost Place, and VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation), among other organizations.

Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Academy of American Poets’ “Poem-a-Day,” Callaloo, Chicago Reader, Gulf Coast, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Logic(s), Virginia Quarterly Review, Wildness, and other publications.

Allen is the founding executive director of The Frances Thompson Arts Foundation and serves as editor-in-chief of Bodemé. She lives in Phoenix on U.S.-occupied Yavapai, O’odham, and Hohokam land.

Instagram: @jadareneeholy
Facebook: Jada Renée
Bluesky: jadarenee.bsky.social

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Jaime Alejandro Cruz is a playwright/multimedia creative from Wyoming. He produces the Arts Calling Podcast, and publishes short-form literary and audio projects at the coalition. Recent collaborations with Teatro del Pueblo, The Ugly Radio, and self-produced at the coalition. His plays have been produced at University of Wyoming, Rain City Projects, Casper Children’s Theater, Las Vegas Little Theater, among others.

Jaime was a Screencraft Horror Competition International Semifinalist and ScriptLab International Quarterfinalist for ‘The Inherited.’ His plays have been workshopped at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Last Frontier Conference, UNLV, Relative Theatrics, Northwest Playwrights, and others.

He was invited to serve as panelist for Ohio Arts Council Award for Playwriting, and was recently seen onstage as a University of Wyoming visiting artist. Through an absurdist immigrant lens, Jaime creates stories about family, working-class people, and outsiders.

Josh Taira is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Missoula, Montana. His work is inspired by both classic and contemporary manga and anime. Themes in his art often include his experiences as a first-generation Asian American growing up in a rural part of the United States, Japanese folklore, and modern trends in American and Japanese media.

Taira currently serves as the art director at the Roxy Theater in Missoula and takes on occasional freelance illustration and design projects.

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Kisha Vaughan has been a vibrant presence in Seattle’s hip-hop dance scene for more than 20 years. As the creative director of Dope Girl Movement, she develops platforms to showcase the artistic essence of hip-hop dance, celebrating its uniqueness while providing local dancers with visibility and professional opportunities.

Her choreography has been featured at major festivals, dance shows, and competitions, including Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival, her self-produced show House Party at MOB Studios, and singer Brittany Davis’ TikTok campaign and live performance at the Paramount Theatre with Stone Gossard’s Loosegroove Records.

A former backup dancer for Macklemore, Vaughan has toured across the U.S. and Canada, performing on Showtime at the Apollo, Conan O’Brien, MTV, and the Billboard Music Awards. She has taught throughout the Pacific Northwest, works as a fitness coach, and serves as a Lululemon ambassador. Vaughn was honored as a 2025 Seattle Office of Arts & Culture CityArtist award recipient.

She also hosts Booties & Bottles, her signature fundraiser blending hip-hop dance, joy, and community.

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Leta Harris Neustaedter is a musician and actor who founded Metamorphosis Performing Arts Studio, where she integrates life skills into arts education. She has directed musical theater camps, Make-A-Movie camps, and created three seasons of Chill Skillz, an educational sketch comedy series. Neustaedter collaborates with the Boise High Orchestra on an ongoing program called Music That Matters, performs at local venues, and sings with the Boise Philharmonic Chorale.

She is a Certified Change Leader with the Idaho Commission on the Arts and a juried member of Music to Life. Neustaedter composed the musical underscoring for all 70-plus episodes of her podcast, The Lovely Afro, an archive of stories from the BIPOC community.

Last year, she produced, directed, and starred in a reading of a Lynn Nottage play. She also served as bandleader and pianist for a production of Lizzie. Neustaedter was one of nine recipients of the 2024 National Alliance for Musical Theatre New Writer Residency Grant for her original musical, for which she has since completed two drafts.

Lofanitani Aisea is a Black Indigenous interdisciplinary multimedia experimental performance artist, filmmaker, and storyteller. She is Modoc, Klamath, Tahlequah, Black, and Tongan. Aisea’s work combines film, movement, and sound to transform cultural memory into immersive experiences, centering joy as a radical act of reclamation.

Using an experimental lens, she examines identity, intergenerational storytelling, and the ways histories are archived, embodied, and reimagined.

Lynne Hardy, originally from Arizona, currently resides in Provo, Utah. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in entrepreneurship.

Her work, created using digital drawing and painting in Adobe Fresco, is described as colorful, modern depictions of her Navajo people and culture. Inspired by her ancestors, Hardy strives to preserve their stories. Authenticity, Native representation, and inclusion are central to her creations, as she aims to share her culture and combat harmful Native stereotypes.

In 2020, Hardy launched her small online business, Ajoobaasani, where she sells self-designed Navajo products, including stickers, prints, and apparel. The success of Ajoobaasani opened doors for her to collaborate with Native-led organizations and companies seeking Native art, enabling her to become a full-time illustrator.

Hardy hopes to continue growing her art career and business while working with clients who value Native culture.