San Francisco’s African American Arts & Culture Complex Welcomes David Mack New Managing Director

The New Managing Director will assist with the expanded vision and current growth trajectory of the African American Arts and Culture Complex located in San Francisco’s Fillmore District.

David Mack AAACC New Managing Director

David Mack AAACC New Managing Director

SAN FRANCISCOJan. 17, 2024PRLog — Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco ~ Dallas

The African American Art and Culture Complex’s Co-Executive Directors, Melonie Green and Melorra Green and leadership team are excited to announce the addition of David Mack in the new role of Managing Director.  As AAACC is preparing to complete the last installment of its successful five-month arts series, “Season of Black Art” in February, its leaders say Mack with his skills and expertise in operations and arts management, organizational change and funder relations could not have come at a better time. Mack started his tenure immediately following the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

“The African American Art and Culture Complex is undergoing exponential growth and is expanding its reach regionally, nationally and internationally.  David Mack is a great addition to our excellent team,” said Reverend Arnold Townsend, President of the Board of Directors.

Over the past decade, Mack (he/him) has managed some of California’s most innovative performing arts organizations, including: Joe Goode Performance Group, Invertigo Dance Theatre, The Industry and Watts Village Theater Company.  As a Strategic Consultant, Mack’s clients have included the cities of West Hollywood, Santa Monica and Culver City, as well as Center Theatre Group and LA Dance Project.

During his four-year tenure as Managing Director of Watts Village Theater Company, the company tripled its annual operating budget, doubled the size of its Board of Directors and was awarded a Regional Theatre Tony Award.

Mack is no stranger to the Bay Area arts landscape.  Mack most recently served as  a member of WESTAF’s Greater Bay Area Arts & Cultural Advocacy Coalition and Co-Founder of Artist Magnet and Artist Magnet Justice Alliance, Oakland-based arts service organizations. He has served on the Boards and committee leadership of several arts organizations, including the San Francisco Arts Alliance and Western Arts Alliance.

“David has the expertise of managing immersive cultural performances in storefronts, train stations and public spaces with the ability to collaborate with national funders, corporations, local vendors, government municipalities and collaborating performing arts,” said Melonie Green Co-Director of the African American Art and Culture Complex. “He’s truly a great asset to our remarkable team with its recent success of the “Season of Black Art” and “The Wakanda Winter  Wonderland  that have been crowd pleasers.”

“I am honored and excited to join the leadership team of one of the oldest and most significant African American cultural organizations in the Bay Area.  AAACC holds a deep legacy and special place in the hearts of many artists and residents – locally and throughout the region.  I look forward to working with our team to expand the Center’s visibility and deepen our impact on the communities we serve with innovative programs like the “Season of Black Art,” said David Mack.

The AAACC launched “The Season of Black Art” to reintroduce San Francisco to the arts space that has sustained over 200 artists and businesses via funding from Mayor London Breed’s “Dream Keeper Initiative.”   The last installment of the series that has been directed by Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., founder of the theater company, SF BATCO and its New Roots Theater Festival, culminates on Saturday, February 10th with an all-day “Symposium on Black Art.” The five-month  series launched in October 2023 to provide a platform of visibility for the arts and business cohort gave the community not only an opportunity to see unsung talent, but also the new renovations of the old building that was once a brewery.

Visit www.aaacc.org for more information.

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ABOUT

The African American Art and Culture Complex

(AAACC) is operated with a vision to be a space for Black Creatives and Communities to thrive. AAACC is a space for Black creatives to present, gather, and learn, while being a space for all to experience Black art and culture. Individuals and organizations are engaged that align with its mission and core values: Creative Equity, Excellence, Freedom of Expression, Fun & Innovation and Health & Wellness.

San Francisco’s Leading Arts-Integrated Preschool Celebrates Four Decades with Gala

San Francisco’s Leading Arts-Integrated Pre-School Celebrates Four Decades with Ruby Gala Alumni Party Saturday 5/6/23 at Mission Rock Resort

SAN FRANCISCOMay 4, 2023PRLog — Russian Hill School, a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrates 40 years of arts-integrated early childhood education, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. This event is to celebrate 40 years serving San Francisco with our beloved alumni community.

Serving San Francisco since 1981, Russian Hill School addresses the social, emotional, and educational needs of children through an innovative arts and project-based curriculum. The gala celebrates the school’s years of holistic child and family development, fostering creativity and community, and building a well-rounded love of learning.

“It’s impossible to truly appreciate everything that makes Russian Hill so special when your child is at the school,” shares RHS parent, Rickie Milmoe. “It is only after he or she graduates and goes on to other wonderful schools that you realize the quality of the small classroom instruction, the individualized approach to teaching each and every one of our children, the unmatched quality of the artwork they bring home, and the social skills gained in the mixed-age classroom.”

The Ruby Anniversary Gala will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Mission Rock Resort, starting at 6:00 PM. The event features an art show retrospective. Participants are requested to secure their tickets online athttps://rhs.ejoinme.org/gala (https://russianhillschool.us19.list-manage.com/track/clic…); donations and sponsorship opportunities are also available.

At RHS we are passionate about early years learning and supporting families from day one. It is a true joy to help foster lifelong friendships and community connections within our great city,” said Kate Threlfall PhD, RHS parent and Co-Director.

When Teacher Bonnie founded RHS over 40 years ago it was second nature as a trained educator and fine artist to blend the two. Four decades later the research has caught up and we know that integrating the arts with academics through a project based approach creates an artful, joyous, and play filled preschool experience that enhances learning, self esteem, and self efficacy. It is truly exciting to witness student growth and foundational social and emotional learning in these early years; there is so much of it to behold. We are thrilled to see the dream of expanding RHS programming come to fruition so that we can support diverse family systems from the very beginning, the transition to parenthood.”

About Russian Hill School:

Russian Hill School was founded in 1981 by artsBM educator Bonnie McFadden, MA. Working with a team of esteemed teachers through the years, she developed an innovative arts-integrated curriculum, using extended-learning projects to teach pre-kindergarten academics in reading and math readiness skills. This unique school delivers an environment where kids engage their imagination, foster their creativity and build a well-rounded love of learning.

Media Contact:

Christine Regan
Community and Admissions
cregan@russianhillschool.org
415.209.5831

www.russianhillschool.org

San Francisco’s Leading Arts-Integrated Preschool Celebrates 4 Decades with Growth and Fundraiser

SAN FRANCISCOJune 7, 2022PRLog — Russian Hill School, a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrates 40 years serving the San Francisco Bay Area community with arts-integrated early childhood education, on Saturday, June 11, 2022. This event aims to raise funds for the expansion of programming that will support the educational experience of both students and their parents. This event is the school’s primary fundraising event for the year.

Serving SF since 1981, Russian Hill School addresses the social, emotional, and educational needs of children through an innovative arts and project-based curriculum. The annual fundraising event serves as an introduction to new programming that will continue the school’s goals of holistic child and family development, fostering creativity, and building a well-rounded love of learning starting from the transition to parenthood.

The expansion of offerings provided by RHS includes New Parent Support Groups, Parent/Caregiver and Me classes, Dr. John Gottman’s Bringing Home Baby Seminar, K-2 after school enrichment classes, and most notably the new toddler program, RHS Littles: Directed by Teacher Kirsten Hove, early childhood educator and RHS Alum.

“It’s impossible to truly appreciate everything that makes Russian Hill so special when your child is at the school,” shares RHS parent, Rickie Milmoe. “It is only after he or she graduates and goes on to other wonderful schools that you realize the quality of the small classroom instruction, the individualized approach to teaching each and every one of our children, the unmatched quality of the artwork they bring home, and the social skills gained in the mixed-age classroom.”

The annual fundraising event will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the Presidio Golf Course Clubhouse, starting at 6:30 PM. The event features a live art auction, wine vault auction, cocktail reception and catered dinner. Participants are requested to make their reservation online at https://rhs.ejoinme.org/sponsorships2022; where donations and sponsorship opportunities are also accepted.

At RHS we are passionate about early years learning and supporting families from day one. It is a true joy to help foster lifelong friendships and community connections within our great city,” said Kate Threlfall PhD, RHS parent and Co-Director.

When Teacher Bonnie founded RHS over 40 years ago it was second nature as a trained educator and fine artist to blend the two. Four decades later the research has caught up and we know that integrating the arts with academics through a project based approach creates an artful, joyous, and play filled preschool experience that enhances learning, self esteem, and self efficacy. It is truly exciting to witness student growth and foundational social and emotional learning in these early years; there is so much of it to behold. We are thrilled to see the dream of expanding RHS programming come to fruition so that we can support diverse family systems from the very beginning, the transition to parenthood.”