Ashara Ekundayo is a Black feminist, interdisciplinary creative arts leader committed to an intersectional framework of social transformation that expands the influence and impact of arts and culture on racial equity, gender & justice, and environmental literacy and necessitates a practice of recognizing joy in the midst of struggle. Working internationally across cultural, spiritual, civic, and social innovation spaces, Ashara embodies a range of roles including independent curator, cultural theologian, artist, creative industries entrepreneur, organizer, mentor, and mother. She is the Cultural Strategist for 4 Color Books, sits on the SECA Advisory Board at the San Francisco MoMA, is a forum Curator at the Museum of the African Diaspora, and is the founder of and steward at Artist As First Responder–an organization and 6-point philanthropic, interactive arts platform that engages and supports artists whose creative practices heal communities and save lives.

Image credits: Demondre Ward for Umber Publishing