In December 2003, IAAF partnered with The Chicago Community Trust's Arts Education Task Force to work towards the goal of ensuring that every Illinois student has the opportunity to receive sequential instruction in the arts (music, dance, visual arts and theatre.) Given IAAF's 23-year history of successfully advocating on behalf of the arts and our extensive statewide network of arts supporters, as well as The Trust's longstanding commitment to the arts, this partnership complements and exemplifies the work and mission of both organizations.

In addition to the Illinois Arts Alliance and The Chicago Community Trust, several key players have played a leadership role in guiding the Illinois Creates initiative. Here is a list of the Illinois Creates Steering Committee Members:

Staff
Ra Joy, Executive Director, Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation
Julie Adrianopoli, Policy & Strategic Initiatives Director, Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation

Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Sunny Penedo-Chico, President, SPC Consulting
Nancy Stemper, Executive Director, Carbondale Community Arts

Steering Committee Members
Becky Blaine, President, Illinois Art Educators Association
Greg Cameron, Associate Director, Chief Development Officer, Museum of Contemporary Art
Paul Chiaravalle, Associate Vice President, Chief of Staff, Columbia College Chicago
Libby Lai-Bun Chiu, Arts & Foreign Language Specialist, ISBE/IAC Partnership
Tatiana Gant, Director, Arts in Education Programs, Illinois Arts Council
Michael Hernandez, Attorney, Franczek, Sullivan P.C.
Kathryn Humphreys, Education Director, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Welz Kauffman, President and CEO, Ravinia Festival
Randy Kummer, Executive Director, Illinois Music Educators Association
Stanley Madeja, Retired Professor of Art, Northern Illinois University School of Art
John Muszynski, President-elect, Illinois Theater Association
Bill Ocasio, Alderman, 26th Ward of Chicago
Angela Paterakis, Board Member, Illinois Alliance for Arts Education
Mike Pressler, Assistant Principal, Maine East Township High School
Gail Purkey, Director of Communications, Illinois Federation of Teachers
Nick Rabkin, Executive Director Chicago Center for Arts Policy, Columbia College Chicago
Sharon Reed, Director of Fine Arts, Peoria Public Schools
Melanie and Doug Scofield, Scofield Communications
Sarah Solotaroff, Project Director, Chicago Arts Education Initiative
Sheridan Turner, Executive Director, Kohl Children's Museum
Gladys Vaccarezza, Principal, Blaine Elementary School

IAA Home

Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation
203 North Wabash
Suite 1920
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 312.855.3105   Fax: 312.855.1565
info@artsalliance.org