NBAF Welcomes New President & CEO Vikki Millender-Morrow and Announces 2017 Season Celebrating World Music
Vikki Millender-Morrow is a seasoned leader with over a decade of effective operational and strategic leadership at nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, including GCAPP, Jane Fonda's organization, following a successful career with a Fortune 100 company. She is the Board Chair of the Atlanta Jazz Festival and previously served on the board of the National Black Arts Festival. A member of the 2009 Class of Leadership Atlanta, Vikki has an engineering degree and a Masters' in Public and Private Management.
"We are excited to have Vikki at the helm," said Lolita B. Jackson, NBAF Board chair. "She is a strong leader who understands how to partner with the board, motivate staff, ensure financial stability and work effectively with supporters and friends for our success. Vikki's professional experience in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors, her community relationships and her leadership skills make her the perfect choice to lead the organization into our 30th anniversary year and beyond."
NBAF has flourished under great leadership over its 29-year history and expresses gratitude to outgoing Managing Director Grace C. Stanislaus for leading the organization for three years. Ms. Stanislaus, who has decided to return to San Francisco, noted, "I am honored to have led the National Black Arts Festival and to have been part of the storied history of an organization that has long been a cornerstone of the vibrant arts and cultural community in Atlanta, and the nation. As I pass the baton to Vikki, I'm confident that she and NBAF's dedicated board and staff will continue to build on its extraordinary cultural legacy, with support from the community. NBAF will have my ongoing support."
This year, NBAF is celebrating a legacy of arts programming and experiences and remains committed to our mission to EDUCATE, ENRICH and ENTERTAIN generations of artists, emerging artists and art lovers in Atlanta and beyond. NBAF started as a summer festival that drew thousands of artists, Atlantans and visitors to the city to celebrate African American artists and artists of African descent.
"I have been fortunate to call Atlanta home for over 27 years, and now have the distinct pleasure of leading NBAF, this amazing arts organization that I am passionate about because of what it has meant to so many over the years," said Vikki Millender-Morrow. "I'm equally excited about our Move/Dance! and NextGen Artist programs for youth in the Atlanta Public Schools. These new initiatives are designed to help train and encourage the next generation of artists in our own community. I am indebted to all the inspiring leaders and champions of NBAF and look forward to leading us into the future and building on their legacy."
NBAF is also pleased to announce its 2017 Program Season, presenting a series "Celebrating World Music, The Best of Atlanta". The 2017, season which runs from September to November, will featureprograms that include the following:
20th Anniversary Gala -- NBAF's largest fundraising event takes place at Flourish on Saturday July 8.
Honorary Chairs -- Mayor and Mrs. Kasim Reed
Marquee Sponsor -- American Family Insurance
Presenting Sponsors -- Bank of America, Georgia-Pacific and Turner
Family Day/Culture Fest- Celebrating World Music: The Best of Atlanta -Auburn Avenue Historic District on Saturday, September 23.
Musical performances include African drumming, Afrobeat, Caribbean steel pan, reggae, soca and calypso, Afro-Cuban jazz, and a master class by a member of the performing group.
Film Series/Screening - Emory University Campus- Tuesday, September 26. The Pan African Festival of Algiers (1969) by William Klein - Screening and post-screening conversation with scholars about the first Pan-African Cultural Festival, the most notable cultural event in Africa. Each African country represented their culture through song and dance throughout the streets.
- October 24 & 25th - One Voice featuring Douglas Turner Ward
Gallery Series: Intersecting Disciplines: Visual Arts/Music -- at the ZuCot Gallery in historic Castleberry Hill on Saturday, September 30.
Exhibit tour, artist talk, "pop up" musical performances.
Panel Discussion: Social and Political Resistance and Healing - The Power of Music", at the First Congregational Church (in conjunction with the 150
th Anniversary of the church).
Panel discussion with ethnomusicologists, scholars and artists to focus a historical lens on how music in its various forms is used as an instrument in fueling resistance movements.
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