Oakwood Arts

Alanna Airtam
Artist

Questioning generalized stereotypes and the lack of fair representation of Black people in art spaces has led photographer Alanna Airitam to research critical historical omissions and how those contrived narratives represent and influence succeeding generations. Her portraits and vanitas still life photography in series such as The Golden Age, Crossroads, White Privilege, and individual works such as Take a Look Inside and How to Make a Country ask the viewer to question who they are and how they choose to be seen. Alanna is a 2020 San Diego Art Prize winner and recipient of the 2020 Michael Reichmann Project Grant Award. Her photographs have been exhibited at Catherine Edelman Gallery in Chicago, San Diego Art Institute, Art Miami with Catherine Edelman, Pentimenti Gallery in Philadelphia, Colorado Photographic Arts Center in Denver, and Candela Gallery in Richmond, Virginia. Her work has been acquired for the Virginia Museum of Fine Art’s collection. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Airitam has also led workshops and mentors for Oakwood Arts, and is an Advisory Board Member and Juror of the Black Photographers Scholarship Program for Medium Photo, and a Juror for the MFA Photography Reviews. Born in Queens, New York, Airitam now resides in Tucson, Arizona.

Lindsay Crumpton

Operations Manager, MBS Equipment Manager

Lindsay is an operations manager with MBS Equipment Company, a lighting and grip vendor for the film industry, and has worked between Richmond and Atlanta since 2019. She studied Art and Sociology at Georgia State University, graduating in 2013, and was previously involved in a volunteer capacity with AmeriCorps and with the GA chapter of the Sierra Club, serving on their fundraising committee. Lindsay connected with Oakwood Arts’ OA Jet program in 2021 by hosting training workshops at MBS, and is committed to continued support of programs highlighting and encouraging diversity in creative careers. 

Katherine Leatherwood Brakman
Senior Producer, Running With Scissors, The Martin Agency

Katherine is a senior producer at Running With Scissors, the Martin Agency’s postproduction facility. She holds a BFA in film and television from New York University, where she concentrated on documentary filmmaking. She spent several years working in the production department on feature and independent films, and as owner of Fiat Lux Films, she produced commercials for national and regional clients for 18 years. She also serves on the board of Sabot at Stony Point, an independent school in Richmond educating children from preschool through eighth grade.

Delegate Rae Cousins
Virginia House of Delegates of Richmond’s 79th district, Attorney, BrownGreer PLC

Rae is an attorney at BrownGreer PLC, where she is responsible for developing and managing processes for large-scale mass claims resolution programs. Outside of work, she serves as a board member for the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School and the Afrikana Independent Film Festival. She has also volunteered for local political campaigns and is committed to improving the conditions of low-income communities by way of poverty reduction and access to quality education and job opportunities. Rae graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2001 and from Howard University School of Law in 2010.

Tia Delano
Financial Consultant and Publisher

Tia Delano is a financial analyst, writer and publisher, with a background in international taxation and railroad legislation. She holds Bachelor's degree in Professional Communication and a minor in accounting from Old Dominion University. She holds an Enrolled Agent license from Internal Revenue Service. Tia is committed to offering culturally competent financial consultations, and combines analysis, education, and strategy when working with her clients. She's a longtime supporter of the arts and has enjoyed chronicling her art experiences through her blogs and books. She grew up in the Churchill area, and still adores living in Richmond.

Gwen Fitzgerald Director, Public Messaging at LeadingAge

Gwen Fitzgerald is a communications professional and activist in her community. Professionally, she leads teams that develop communications and marketing campaigns that inspire audiences to take action and make positive change. Currently she serves as director, public messaging at LeadingAge, the nonprofit association representing aging services professionals who seek to make America a better place to grow old. In addition, she is a ceramic artist hobbyist, currently working at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Oakwood Arts’ unique focus on teaching creative arts and preparing students for careers in creative industries drew her to volunteer shortly after moving to Richmond in January 2019. She lives with her husband in Church Hill.

Jason W. Flora, President
Associate Fellow (Senior Director), Altria Client Service

Jason is a scientist, teacher, outdoorsman, artist, and father. He serves as an Associate Fellow (Sr. Director), Scientific Strategy and Advocacy, Regulatory Affairs for Altria Client Services (ALCS) in Richmond, VA. Jason received a B.S. in Chemistry from Hampden-Sydney College and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been with Altria for over 20 years and has also served seven years as an adjunct faculty member at VCU in the department of Chemistry. He has co-authored more than 25 scientific peer-reviewed publications and more than 60 presentations. Jason is a lifelong resident of the City of Richmond and has always had a love of the arts. As an amateur artist, his work is displayed in the homes of his friends and family.

Mike Harrell Propmaster in film and television

Mike Harrell has worked for thirty years as a props person in the film industry. His credits include “Cold Mountain,” “The Sopranos,” Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” and the HBO series “John Adams.” He formerly served on the Advisory Board of the World Music Institute in NYC, and the Executive Board of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 487, in Baltimore, MD.

Robin Oliver Hill, Secretary Financial Planning Consultant, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Robin Oliver Hill is the Operations Manager for the Virginia Winery Distribution Company with responsibility for developing and implementing marketing and compliance operations of the company. Over the past 25 years, she has worked in a variety of professional capacities in both the public and private sectors as an accountant and auditor. Shis an alumni of the Virginia Union University Sydney Lewis School of Business with an undergraduate degree in Accounting. She is actively involved in the community and is a Richmond native, residing in the Churchhill neighborhood with her family. 

Sly Tucker
Senior Producer at Tilt Creative + Production

Sly has worked in the film production industry for more than 25 years, and is a senior producer at TiltCP. He previously worked at Park Group Productions, and has always enjoyed working with kids - including his time in Alaska at the Covenant House and Cook Inlet Tribal Council as a case manager and evening program coordinator.