Leading AAC Forward
As we commemorate our 10 year anniversary, the Board of Directors of the Arts Administrators of Color Network (AAC) is proud to announce the appointment of Erika Hawthorne as Executive Director after serving as Interim Executive Director since 2024. Additionally, we are welcoming new Board leadership as we chart our path ahead.
Over the past year and a half, as the sole full-time staff member, Erika guided AAC through meaningful program growth and expanded national reach. These accomplishments matter in a difficult arts funding landscape marked by shrinking resources, rising demands on nonprofits, and increasing pressure on equity-centered work — realities that will shape how we plan, prioritize, and sustain our work ahead.
Erika Hawthorne’s Leadership
During her tenure as Interim Executive Director (August 2024 – December 2025), Erika Hawthorne stewarded AAC through a pivotal period, strengthening internal infrastructure, revitalizing signature programs, and expanding year-round engagement opportunities. She also spearheaded partnership and community engagement strategies that reaffirmed AAC as a trusted home for BIPOC arts leaders nationwide, blending accessible online offerings with meaningful place-based connections.
This leadership builds upon Erika’s longstanding service to AAC, in multiple roles since its founding, bringing deep institutional knowledge and trusted relationships to a defining moment for our organization as we approached our 10-year anniversary. Over the course of her service, Erika has had an undeniable impact on AAC’s growth and evolution. Her ability to hold people, process, and vision together has helped lay the foundation for AAC’s next chapter, and we are honored to lead alongside her.
“I am proud of what we have built together and clear about what this next chapter requires. I have had the honor of helping grow AAC from a local volunteer effort into a national home for BIPOC arts leaders. As we enter our second decade, I am committed to stewarding this organization with vision and care in partnership with our Board and community — expanding and sustaining the for-us-by-us spaces, support, and opportunities our people deserve.” — Erika Hawthorne, Executive Director
At a time when cultural workers of color face shrinking resources and rising demands, AAC’s role as a national connector and infrastructure builder is more vital than ever.
What this meant for our community
Expanded engagement and national reach. AAC engaged approximately 1,800 program registrants, representing 1,127 community members from 20+ states and Washington, DC — demonstrating strong repeat engagement across virtual and in-person programs. AAC’s monthly newsletter grew to 15,000+ subscribers, signaling relevance and strengthening our role as a trusted resource hub.
Strengthened community spaces. Erika revitalized AAC’s mentorship program as The Greenhouse, engaging 34 leaders across 17 pairings; relaunched Affinity Spaces, reaching around 300 participants annually; and launched a virtual learning series and regular virtual coworking sessions convening over 275 arts administrators, with 30–40 participants at a time.
Expanded AAC’s Convening to the West Coast. Held on the West Coast for the first time in AAC’s history, this gathering reached 200+ attendees from 15+ states, awarded 54 scholarships, and directed nearly 100% of the event budget to BIPOC organizations and creative contractors. She stewarded support from the Wallace Foundation, ArtsFund, Amalgamated Bank, American University Arts Management Program, and Deliasofia Zacarias to make a robust two-day convening possible.
Strengthened field knowledge and opportunity access. Erika supported the completion of a Wallace Foundation–funded study, alongside a robust research team, on the cultural policy priorities of Global Majority arts leaders; launched a Community Spotlight blog series elevating leadership stories across AAC’s network; and launched The Bridge, AAC’s long-requested Job & Opportunity Board.
What this meant for key partnerships and sector leadership
During this period, AAC deepened collaborative relationships that paired national reach with locally rooted impact. Key partnerships included:
Creative West’s Leaders of Color Network & Blackbird Collective — co-hosted and co-produced AAC’s 2025 convening in Los Angeles.
Dance Place (DMV) —secured funding and launched a Praxis cohort grounded in dialogue, relationship-building, and shared meals.
Arts Leaders of Color Michigan (Detroit) — piloted the Community Connectors model to amplify local leadership, test alternatives to traditional chapter models, and strengthen regional ecosystems.
Diaspora dNA — co-hosted an in-person affinity space celebrating Philly festival producers.
Culture Works Greater Philadelphia — curated a safe, grounding space for our community to connect, reflect on the 2024 US elections, and strategize for the work ahead.
Race Forward — selected for Race Forward’s Weavers Lab, a year-long cohort focused on strengthening solidarity-driven narrative strategies for racial justice.
Farnsworth Art Museum — Eddie C. & C. Sylvia Brown Institute for Museum Studies (IMS) — partnered with the 2025 Summer Internship cohort to provide mentorship and professional development for emerging HBCU curatorial students.
University partnerships — integrated service-learning students and fellows into AAC’s work through collaborations with American University, Howard University, and the University of Michigan, expanding capacity while investing in emerging leaders.
Erika also elevated AAC’s national voice through speaking engagements, cross-sector learning spaces, and published thought leadership, positioning AAC as a trusted thought partner in conversations on equity, cultural policy, and arts leadership. Engagements included artEquity, the Wallace Foundation Grantee Cohort, Black Orchestral Network, National Performance Network, Americans for the Arts, Arts Education Partnership, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, and Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ).
What this meant for our growth potential
Strengthened infrastructure and governance. Modernized workflows by building systems to streamline project management, financial operations, data management, and donor cultivation. Partnered with the Board to update and strengthen financial and human resources policies, creating a stronger foundation for growth. Advanced AAC’s transition to a staff-led model and co-facilitated a two-day Board Retreat focused on strategy, sustainability, and shared leadership.
Diversified revenue streams. Cultivated institutional partnerships that underwrote program expansion; implemented new advertising and sponsorship strategies; grew grassroots giving; expanded e-commerce; initiated tiered pricing for programs; secured program sponsors; and launched AAC’s job board with paid listings.
“Erika stepped into an extraordinarily challenging moment with clarity, care, and courage. She didn’t just keep AAC steady, she strengthened it.” - Stacey Williams, AAC Board Co-Chair
New Board Leadership
As part of AAC’s next chapter, the Board is pleased to announce that Deliasofia Zacarias is stepping into the role of Board Co-Chair alongside Stacey Williams.
“Deliasofia is a thoughtful and deeply committed leader on our Board. Her enthusiasm, integrity, and steady partnership have strengthened AAC over the years and served as an inspiration for us all. I am deeply honored to welcome her as Co-chair and excited for what will come next!” - Daniel Guzman, Former Board Co-Chair
We are also pleased to welcome three new Board members: Alyssa M. Garcia, Landrum Beard and Tenaja Jordan. These leaders join us as we enter our 10-year anniversary year, and bring expertise in fundraising, equity-centred leadership and organizational strategy.
Alyssa M. Garcia is an arts, education, and nonprofit executive with more than a decade of experience designing and scaling culturally responsive programming while strengthening organizational strategy and operations. A first-generation, queer Latina leader from Los Angeles, she currently serves as Executive Director of Summaeverythang Community Center bringing a systems-driven, equity-centered lens to advancing sustainable growth and community impact.
Landrum Beard is a seasoned advancement leader with more than 18 years of experience across nonprofit, foundation, and higher education sectors. He has held leadership roles at Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, the Greater Washington Urban League, and the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative, advancing equitable philanthropy and strengthening social capital in Black and marginalized communities. He currently serves as Director of Advancement at the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law, where he leads fundraising strategy and donor engagement in support of accessible public interest legal education.
Tenaja Jordan is a seasoned nonprofit professional with nearly two decades of experience in organizational development and philanthropic infrastructure. She founded My Seed of Change LLC to support small, community-led nonprofits and has held leadership roles at CHANGE Philanthropy and Candid. With extensive board experience and a Master of Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College, she brings strategic insight and governance expertise to AAC’s leadership.
“I am honored to step into this role as Co-Chair at such an important moment for AAC. I’m excited to help carry this momentum forward, especially as we welcome three new Board members who bring experience, care, and commitment to our mission. Their perspectives and skills will deepen our work while better resourcing our national impact.” - Deliasofia Zacarias, Board Co-Chair
Entering AAC’s Next Decade
As we enter our 10-year anniversary year, we are navigating a complex political and funding landscape that has made equity-centered work increasingly challenging. We are proud of how far we’ve come and clear-eyed about what it will take to move forward in this moment.
AAC is stepping into this next chapter with strategic clarity — right-sizing priorities to maximize impact, deepening partnerships to expand resources, strengthening our systems, and building a more durable financial and staffing foundation for the long term. As we adapt to shifting conditions, we remain committed to growing responsibly: balancing ambition with care, innovation with accountability, and national reach with locally rooted relationships. Doing so requires creativity, resilience, and community investment.
As we continue scaling national partnerships, expanding leadership development programs, and strengthening sustainable revenue models to meet rising demand, we invite our community’s support to help power what comes next.
Grounded in our collective strength, we move forward with gratitude and a shared commitment to connect, uplift, and expand BIPOC leadership across the U.S. creative sector.
Will you help us continue this work?
Thank you for being part of this community and fueling the work ahead.
AAC’s Leadership Team
