Organizing Artist

As a cultural strategist, daniel johnson draws artistic considerations from their background as a parent, organizer, museum educator, and public historian. johnson’s work emerges in relationship with others, centering the relationship itself as a practice of sincerity, reciprocity, and curiosity. Cultural expression provides the tools for forming affinity and focusing collective deliberation toward practical impacts for everyday life.

Muralist

Gavin Bird is a Jackson, Mississippi based muralist. While drawing, painting and sculpture have been life-long passions, murals have been an emphasis since January 2021. Gavin focuses on creating timeless pieces of art highlighting the culture and history of surrounding communities. Gavin has painted roughly 40 murals throughout the South over the past three years including the largest mural by a single artist in Mississippi measuring 478 feet by 10 feet.

Mixed Media Performance Artist

Sara is a mixed-media performance artist based in New Orleans, LA. Her current work is inspired by the technologies of joy, pleasure, sensation and connection found in Southern Black foodways. She uses stories, sounds and textures to transport people to a future of food sovereignty and abundance.

Community Advisory Group

Mary Kinnard Lofton is a native of Utica, MS. Married to Osie Lofton, they have 6 children, 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Mary is a retired eligibility worker of 28 years with the State of Mississippi, Department of Human Services. She is a graduate of Hinds Agricultural High School and Utica Junior College, located in Utica, Mississippi. She is also a member of Water Valley Missionary Baptist Church and loves to sing in the choir and work in her flower garden.

Community Advisory Group

Kayla McDonald is an example of "Homegrown." As a life-long resident of Utica, MS, her most rewarding achievement is growing the future leaders of the world, giving back to her community while teaching at her hometown school Utica Elementary. When she is not spending time with family and friends, her hobbies are event planning and decorating. As an educator and resident, Kayla believes that Utica's historical attributes and residents are hidden jewels, with much to offer and explore.

Community Advisory Group

Sherril Curtis Strong has deep roots in Utica. Her ancestors settled in Utica in 1780 and her great great grandfather Richard Curtis Jr. has been said to be the first Baptist preacher in Mississippi. Forty-five years married with two children and five grandchildren, Sherril worked in the health sector for forty years in areas such as respiratory therapy, pharmacy tech, patient care representative, dental assistant, and then manager of a dentist office in Utica. After this career Sherril opened a flea market with her 80 year old mother named Rebecca Rose Antiques. Ten years after opening, their building burned down and Sherril reopened the store on Main Street in Utica. Sherril has recently organized a nonprofit - Utica MS Revitalization - to bring life back to her town.

Community Advisory Group

Cycsila Washington is a Utica who works at the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Centers Utica clinic. She attended Carver Elementary/Middle School and graduated from Raymond High School. Washington holds degrees in Practical Nursing and an Associate Degree in Arts from Hinds Community College. She has three children, one grandchild, and loves helping people and giving back to her community when she can. Her hobbies are cooking and traveling.

Community Advisory Group

James Owens is from Hot Coffee, MS in Covington County. He attended Collins High School and graduated from Jackson State University with a degree in Physics. Owens is retired from Entergy after 30 years, with all but 3 of those years at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. He is pastor and founder of Ebenezer Church of God in Christ at 145 White Oak Street in Utica. He operates Omnibus Thrift at 118 White Oak Street in Utica. James has been married to Barbara Owens for over 40 years. They have one son, one daughter and one grandson all living in Texas. The Owens’s have been residents of Utica for over 10 years and have a strong passion to leave the world better than they found it.

Public Engagement Artist

Stephanie McKee-Anderson is a multi-talented creative executive born in Picayune, MS and raised in New Orleans. She leads Junebug Productions, the organizational successor to the Free Southern Theater, the cultural wing of the Southern Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Twenty years stewarding Junebug’s important work has allowed McKee to use her skills as an executive, artistic director, choreographer, and cultural organizer to continue using the arts as a vehicle for social change.

School Residency Artist

Kira Cummings is a multi-medium artist adept in painting, pyrography, photography, videography, graphic design, and animation. A Fine Art graduate of Jackson State University with a Minor in Graphic Design, Cummings holds a membership in the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi for pyrography. Cummings is the Creative Director for The Works where she creates video and animation for musicians, interview programs, and corporate promotions as well as producing live events.