Elizabeth Hodges is passionate about the Urban ArtWorks mission and feels grateful for the opportunity to support it via board leadership. Elizabeth credits the Seattle Public Schools art teachers that nurtured her artistic abilities, first at McClure middle school and then at Franklin High School, for inspiring her to continue her art education in college. Some of her fondest memories of life fresh out of undergrad include painting murals in public schools and working at an art gallery. Elizabeth earned her Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Art from Clark Atlanta University. She is a longtime nonprofit leader focused on strengthening youth, families, and underserved communities. Elizabeth spends her free time looking for the best local coffee shops and enjoying public art with her husband, Reuben.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, creative mind, and passion for service, Kim is a season professional with 20+ years of experience with a diverse background in art, design, communication, training, digital marketing, brand strategy, executive leadership, and design. She pursues organization development specifically focused on the IDEA: Inclusion = Diversity + Equity+ Accessibility, allows you to build culture from the inside out.

As a past executive, current Adjunct Professor and holder of an MBA in executive leadership, Kim understands that the heart and mind help bring balance to people and business. She is a fierce advocate for the community, spending her time volunteering and donating to bring positive changes and support the organizations around her.

Above all, Kim is someone who absolutely loves a creative mind, an artistic eye, and a wicked sense of style…in whatever form.

Sung Park grew up in Seattle after moving from South Korea at the age of 7. His earliest memories are of drawing out the steps of making a peanut butter & jelly sandwich in elementary when he was still learning the english language. This sparked his love for art and attended UW graduating with a BA in Interdisciplinary Visual Art, and a BFA in Visual Communications. He then worked as a product designer for various companies for 15+ years before switching fields to product management.

In 2020, he decided to take a break and pursue his PMBA at Seattle University and will be graduating in Dec 2022. In his some 22+ years of working experience, he has seen first hand the importance of representation, inclusion, diversity, and having a seat and a voice at the table. Sung is very excited to be a part of Urban Artworks and looks forward to making a positive contribution to the young artists, the community, and the organization.

Barry Johnson is a self-taught interdisciplinary artist whose work explores race, community, and culture. He has held residencies throughout the Puget Sound region, Hawaii, Tulum, and Argentina. Barry recently authored and illustrated a children’s book titled, Oh What Wonderful hair and his work has been shown and collected around the world ranging in mediums and sizes. He has also created multiple permanent works across King and Pierce County.

Barry has also spoken at a TEDx event in Seattle about the power of creating multiple personas to aid you in your career. He has received multiple grants and awards including the Edwin T. Pratt Award, smART Ventures award, the 2018 GAP Award and he was a finalist for the Conductive Garboil Grant in 2018 and he was a finalist for the Neddy in 2020. Barry is currently going to school to be an architect and lives in Federal Way.

Cristina Cano-Calhoun is a Houston native who has been living in Seattle since 2019. After completing a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology at the University of Texas, Cristina moved to the PNW to pursue a Masters of Urban Design and Planning. During both programs, Cristina led ethnographic and place-based research investigating youth empowerment, community resilience, and information and knowledge sharing. Leaving her role as the Research Coordinator for UW’s THINKLab, Cristina joined the Seattle Art Museum as the Educator for Youth Programs. In her current role, she leads programs and develops resources for high-school aged youth across the region.

Cristina is passionate about improving access to educational opportunities in both urban and rural communities, especially those that center community-based learning. Cristina is a museum fanatic who recognizes the need for places of cultural heritage and informal education. When she’s not with teens or in the galleries, you can find Cristina riding her favorite e-bike across the city!

Kathleen is a passionate DEI advocate, driven by her unwavering commitment to cultivating communities where full authenticity is embraced and differences are celebrated. As a Senior Human Resources Partner with 12 years of expertise in comprehensive people and culture strategies, organizational development, executive leadership coaching, talent acquisition and change management, she thrives in collaborative environments and infuses every endeavour with energy and enthusiasm.

As someone who has navigated the 1.5 gen immigrant experience, being born in the Philippines and raised in Canada, Kathleen understands first-hand the complexities of adapting to new cultures while honouring one’s roots. Her multicultural journey and lived experiences have shaped her advocacy for fostering inclusive spaces and championing the importance of representation. With over 22 years of volunteer work uplifting BIPOC communities, including mentoring immigrant students and serving as a culture and arts ambassador, Kathleen is excited to continue making an impact in the vibrant arts community of her new home in Seattle. Maintaining a strong connection to her heritage, she is also a proud member of the Filipino Community of Seattle’s Kalahi Cultural Dance Ensemble.

Beyond her professional endeavours and community involvement, Kathleen explores the world (48 countries, 6 continents, and counting!), runs marathons (World Majors marathon finisher: Berlin 2023), and climbs mountains all over the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She embodies what it means to challenge the status quo and approaches each day as an opportunity to create positive change.

Kevin is an international street artist who uses stencil art and murals to respond to new and current events– as a means to visually display and encourage empathy, justice, and action in the community. His work has been shown at Bellevue Arts Museum, The Guardian, and several local arts organizations in Seattle.

Parallel to his passion for public art, Kevin has developed a career in creative marketing, content strategy and production, and brand development. He has worked with local outdoor brands like REI, Filson, and Eddie Bauer to not only grow customer engagement but to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable outdoor experience– believing that education, curiosity, and community inclusion should guide our actions.

As an award-winning filmmaker and passionate storyteller, Kevin also seeks to elevate narratives and amplify voices. He has worked in over 18 countries (including Antarctica) and always looks to bring us closer through shared experience.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Alejandro spent his collegiate years at UCLA studying English Literature. As a first-generation college graduate, he’s spent most of his life pursuing new experiences and helping to open doors for others. While Seattle is currently home for the last decade, Alejandro has spent time living in San Francisco, New York, Mexico City, and Berlin.

In his early career, Alejandro spent time working in journalism, specifically focusing on the convergence of art, culture, and technology. He then made a pivot to marketing and communications to pursue leadership positions across technology, including leading high impact teams at frog design, Tableau, and Salesforce.

Alejandro is currently the Head of Marketing at Very Good Ventures, a consulting firm helping organization bring digital products to market. He’s incredibly passionate about helping Urban Artworks increase its impact and visibility!

Jaron Bernstein is a born-and-raised Seattleite and proud graduate of Washington Middle and Garfield High Schools. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Jaron was fortunate to have access to many creative and artistic opportunities exploring classical music, vocal performance, photography and theatre arts. This led him to pursue a degree in Theatre from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and eventually obtain his MBA in Arts Administration from the Wisconsin School of Business in Madison.

Professionally, Jaron’s career is firmly rooted in the nonprofit sector, primarily in arts & culture as well as affordable housing, community development and human services. He is currently a Consultant with Alford Group, a national consultancy focused on accelerating the impact of the nonprofit community, where he works organizations to marry vision and strategy with action, identify and establish vital systems and processes, and tell their story effectively. Prior to returning to the PNW in 2018 after more than a decade in the Midwest, Jaron led corporate and foundation fundraising at Writers Theatre while the organization undertook a $35-million capital campaign to construct a new facility. He has also partnered with nonprofits and governments entities on projects related to organizational strategy and design, audience development, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Jaron ardently believes in the unique power of the arts to create joy and inspiration, forge identity, and build healthy, resilient and equitable communities. In particular, he is a fierce advocate for the concept of creative placemaking/keeping – the idea that the arts can and should be leveraged in all realms of community development. He is thrilled and honored to serve Urban Artworks as a member of the Board of Directors and contribute to its mission of building connection and empowering voices through public art.

In his personal life, Jaron enjoys rooting for all Seattle sports teams (especially the Seahawks and Sounders), attending the performing arts, hiking, and running long distances.

Wren is proud to be a board member at Urban ArtWorks, an organization that shares her appreciation of youth programs, community building, and art! In her professional life, Wren manages public realm projects including public art and beautification for a neighborhood nonprofit organization. She enjoys connecting with artists and community members to add art to the neighborhood. She is continuing to learn and witness the value that public art has on community identity and establishing a sense of belonging.

Throughout her life, Wren has been a participant, a volunteer, and an employee at various youth-centered organizations such as the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. She believes in the importance of leadership development and confidence building in youth; and supports Urban ArtWorks as an organization that helps remove barriers for youth representation.

In her free time, you can find Wren rock climbing on Washington peaks!

Garett Larivee is very excited to continue supporting the arts and his community as a member of the Urban ArtWorks board! Born and raised in Massachusetts, Garett graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in Biology and a certificate in Informatics and Modeling in 2018. After graduating, Garett moved to Los Angeles to pursue work in advocacy – first as a director of a canvassing company raising money for the ACLU, Dr. Without Borders, and Planned Parenthood, then later as Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications for Crayon Collection and Habits of Waste.

Garett eventually moved to Seattle to be with his partner, Korey, their dog Bacchus and cat Minerva. Professionally, Garett now works for Sellen Construction supporting their Business Development and Marketing teams. In his free time, he enjoys reading, getting out into nature, going on adventures with his partner and, of course, creating art!

After graduating with a degree in Arts, Media, and Culture from the University of Washington, Alyssa developed her passion for youth development while serving as an AmeriCorps member for an outdoor education and youth mentorship program in Seattle. Seeing first hand the impacts recreation and mentorship can have on building resilience in youth, and having the opportunity to work in partnership with some of the best youth serving organizations in the city, youth development has become a life-long passion for her.

Alyssa currently works as a Creative Producer, working with brands, artists, designers and writers on a full spectrum of creative work. With a graduate certificates in Podcast Production from UC Berkeley she has a deep interest in the power of storytelling especially through art. Alyssa is excited to blend her passion and experience to serve Urban ArtWorks and their mission.