Producing Artistic Director, Global Lounge Incorporated

Debra Littlesun is the Assistant Director of the University of Wyoming Art Museum since 2018. Previously Associate Director of Scholarships & Program Coordinator for Diversity Initiatives in the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid. Appointed by the University President to administer and serve as ex-officio for the Northern Arapaho Endowment and Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship Programs. Prior to coming to UW Littlesun was Director of Scholarship for the American Indian College Fund in Denver, Colorado. Littlesun earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration from Chief Dull Knife College, Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Cum laude, from Rocky Mountain College and a Certificate in Arts Management, from University of California, Irvine. Littlesun is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe and a direct descendant of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Debra is responsible for the financial management of museum activities but most enjoys when called on by curators for historical information related to objects from Native American Tribes. She has developed a deep appreciation for museums as a medium for teaching while continuing to explore ways to use objects to educate and inform individuals to view culture through a different lens, and to encourage growth and collaboration.

Artist/Educator, DDAT Management | San Juan College

Devin Hursey is a writer and graphic designer, with a passion for telling stories about people living with HIV and public health. Hursey, from Kansas City Missouri, holds dual master’s degrees in public health and strategic communications from the University of Missouri Columbia. In 2019, Hursey was honored as one of the 40 under 40 in public health by de Beaumont, as well as a 2023 Public Health Thought Leader by the Boston Congress of Public Health. His local and state work includes a featured columnist of the Next Page KC, leadership of the Real Justice Network contributing to campaign related to local politics, and board membership of Blaqout KC. Formerly: an appointed member of the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and Viral Hepatitis, and many other roles related to the health and rights of people living with HIV.

Discipline: Multidisciplinary

Elizabeth Denneau is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and art educator residing in the Sonoran Southwest. She obtained her teaching certificate and BFA in Art and Visual Culture Education through the University of Arizona and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is a member of the Art21 Educators Institute and works with local community organizers, cultural workers, and colleges to develop practical models of social justice in art education. In her artistic practice, narratives of human perseverance, vulnerability, and power dynamics continually influence her artist. She writes about her experiences being a Black educator and her upbringing in a place where Black people represent less than 3% of the population. She co-founded the Southwest Black Artists Collective and The Projects- art space. Both organizations serve a mission to bring visibility and support to Black creatives.

Director of Community Engagment, Grand Opera House, Inc.

My name is Emari Vieira-Gunn. I have been working in the education and arts fields for the past four years, and was most recently appointed to the position of Director of Community Engagement for the Grand Opera House, Inc. I am a lifelong Delaware resident and my commitment to creating change through the arts/ed and bettering existing programming within my organization, is my main area of focus. I have a passion for enriching the Delaware community and beyond, with engaging, impactful and enriching educational arts programming.

Curator and Creative Consultant, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum

Fabiola (or just Fa) is a Venezuelan Human Rights Lawyer who turned her career around and wears many hats as an independent curator, creative consultant, writer, and performer. A former Amnesty International Regional Manager in her native country, her activism proved too dangerous, forcing her to move to the United States where she currently seeks political asylum and dedicates herself to finding justice through artistic and cultural expressions. Recognizing storytelling as the essence of her practice, she strives for thought-provoking and imaginative projects that highlight different perspectives, ignored, and forgotten stories.
She’s a co-founder of KAMA DC, a community-building platform for immigrant-led cultural experiences, and a member of the Curatorial Selection Committee of the GLB Memorial Fund for the Arts, an annual award supporting womxn artists and curators in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Fabiola has worked with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Asian Art, Anacostia Community Museum, The Embassy of Venezuela, The Embassy of Spain, Washington Project for the Arts, Times Square Arts, The Center for Book Arts NYC, The Brooklyn Museum, MacArthur Fellow Mel Chin, The FUNDRED Project, S.O.U.R.C.E. Studio, and more.

Discipline: Interdisciplinary

Fawn Douglas is a Native American artivist, mother, and enrolled member of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe. She also has roots with the Moapa Paiute, Southern Cheyenne, Creek, Pawnee, and Scottish. Fawn is the head matriarch of Nuwu Art and runs the Nuwu Art + Activism Studios along with the Nuwu Art Gallery + Community Center, located in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada. She is dedicated to the intersections of art, activism, community, education, culture, identity, place, and sovereignty. Her art-making often remembers the past and ensures that stories of Indigenous peoples are heard in the present. Her studio practice includes drawing, painting, weaving, sculpture, and performance. Fawn currently does art and cultural consulting through Nuwu Art, organizes with the non-profit IndigenousAF, serves as an Arts Commissioner for the City of Las Vegas, and works part-time with Meow Wolf. She earned her MFA at UNLV and works on several issues that span from MMIR/MMIW to environmental protection.

Discipline: Interdisciplinary

Gabby Langkilde is a Samoan writer, born and raised in American Samoa. In 2021, she graduated from Harvard College, where she was on The Harvard Crimson editorial board for three years. Perhaps one of her proudest undergraduate achievements is the production of her column entitled “Pasefika Presence” – the first-ever column to center Pacific Islander issues and experiences in The Harvard Crimson. She continues to be passionate about raising awareness for Pacific issues and is currently based in American Samoa, where she works as an educator and is also now using her writing experience to launch a new magazine entitled “”Pasefika Presence”” – named after her previous column. The goal of this new publication is to provide a platform for other Pasefika storytellers and artists to share their stories and work. Gabby is a firm believer in the power of storytelling, and knows that the world has much to learn from the voices of the Pacific.

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.

Discipline: Music

Through his work, Gordon Sasaki expands the limits of disability. He creates opportunity to engage with disability that is simultaneously challenging and beautiful. Using his own wheelchair as a “”still-life”” motif he creates life-size paintings that redefine disability as a rich resource of creative energy and cultural iconography.

Curatorial and Administrative Assistant, Firehouse Art Center

Harvee White is the Education and Programs Manager at History Cherokee in Cherokee County, Ga. Naturally gregarious, Harvee loves bringing diverse and inclusive stories to the forefront of the community, and her work emphasizes the importance of shared authority and engagement. Harvee’s upbringing in Bossier City, Louisiana and the Atlanta, Ga area has informed her love of Black Southern culture and history. She holds a BA in Art History from Georgia State University and an MA in Public History and Museum Studies from the University of West, Georgia . Harvee prides herself on her ability to keep multiple houseplants alive, and will never say no to sour gummy worms.

Artistic Director, Phoenix Boys Choir

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.

Discipline: Dance

Indra Arriaga Delgado is a Mexican artist, writer, filmmaker, and researcher working in Alaska. Arriaga Delgado has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. In 2019, she received a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award for her Etimologías Opacas/Opaque Etymologies project. Her recent film, Sabor Ártico: Latinos en Alaska (Arctic Flavor: Latinos in Alaska) was funded by Latino Public Broadcasting and selected to screen in September as part of the Los Angeles New Filmmakers Festival. Indra serves on the board Perseverance Theatre, is on the advisory committee for Identity, as well as an Advisor to the Center for Technology and Civic Life, a nonpartisan organization helping to strengthen electoral practices nationwide, and is currently collaborating with Out North as Artistic Director for the Out North Fringe Festival.

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.

Israel Carranza is a Mexican-American artist whose been creating abstract expressionistic paintings inspired by his Indigenous Mexican heritage for many years. He was born and raised in Illinois and recently moved to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Carranza’s art is a reflection of his deep connection to his cultural roots and his passion for exploring the intersection of Indigenous Mexican traditions and contemporary art. His paintings are characterized by bold, vibrant colors and abstract forms that evoke the natural landscapes, myths, and symbols of Mexico’s Indigenous communities.
In addition to his art, Carranza is also active in organizing cultural events in Lincoln that celebrate and showcase the rich heritage of Mexico and its people. He has been instrumental in bringing traditional music, dance, and food to the local community and promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
Carranza’s work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States, and he has received recognition for his contributions to the arts, community and culture. He continues to create and share his art with the world, inspiring others to connect with their own cultural heritage and explore the power of art as a means of expression and connection.