The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District Board are a group of arts advocates, community activists, artists, and business owners dedicating our time, energy, and skills to defend the artistic environment and culture by encouraging thoughtful preservation and development of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. Merging (12/30/2020) with Northeast Community Development Corporation made us “stronger together. We look forward to continuing to tell stories of the artists of the Art District.
Officers - who meet as the Executive Committee:
Josh Blanc, Chair – Our visionary leader, the constant contributor to the organization through the development of the newsletter and community adobe pizza cookouts. A tile artist working in NE and the district since 1996 at Clay Squared to Infinity and a co-owner of Flux Arts Building since 2018.
Jennifer Young, President – Co-owner of art buildings since 1991 (currently California Building, Casket Arts and the Carriage House). The volunteer equivalent of a CEO for the Arts District, weighs in strategically on everything we do.
Sue Sjoselius, Secretary – Marketing and Risk Management officer for Northeast Bank. Long-time arts advocate personally and through her work, a valued logical, historical voice. Provides our board meeting minutes.
Kristine Martin, Treasurer – Strategic advisor with decades of experience in nonprofit management, most recently with East Side Neighborhood Services. Joined the Northeast CDC to assist with development and stayed for the inspiration of art.
Dawn Williams, Vice Chair – Owner of residential real estate, her career was in nonprofit employment training. Works with Northeast Calendar advertisers, raising significant funds and keeping the Northeast Community Development Corporation legacy alive.
Margo Ashmore, Vice President – As now former publisher of the Northeaster newspaper, helped develop the Arts Insights page and assists with many efforts behind the scenes, wordsmithing documents and articles. Margo has had the pulse of Northeast as a reporter for the past 41 years with priceless insights into the community.
Board Members:
Nicholas Harper – Rogue Buddha Gallery owner, podcaster and prolific artist. Host to many informal conversations and organizer of the summer solstice arts community party, Northeast Influential.
Leslie Palmer-Ross – Director of Art Services at ArtForce, she facilitated many early Arts District meetings by contributing space and guidance. Liaison with the Minneapolis & Saint Paul International Airport’s Arts@MSP Program. Makes sure contributors and partners get personal thank-you notes.
Michael Schardin – President of Magnum PR and representing Solar Arts Building’s joyous community of artists, he is assisting the Dispatch publication. Solar Arts has hosted many of our events and forums.
Tom Dunnwald – Attorney with interests especially in the field of co-operative governance. An astute observer of neighborhood and political issues. Serves on the Arts District’s Land Trust Task Force.
Remo Campopiano – An arts advocate since his days producing Artpaper, currently building a portfolio of public art. Designed and maintains the northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org website and the web products associated with our airport exhibits.
Michelle Woster – Executive Director of Cedar Cultural Center and formerly managing director of Theater Latté Da. Organizes Arts District fundraising efforts and grant proposals and reached out to formalize the relationship we have with building owners throughout the district.
Paul Ostrow – While serving as First Ward Minneapolis City Council Member, made sure the Arts District was established by the city. Former NEMAA board member. Current member of the district’s Land Trust Task Force helping navigate city government.
(Members are listed in order of their joining the Arts District board. Sue Sjoselius, Kristine Martin, Dawn Williams and Remo Campopiano joined through the December 2020 merger with Northeast Community Development Corporation.)