BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is united in its commitment to serve Deeply Rooted’s mission. The Board is composed of a range of members with various skills who together represent the world’s diversity in terms of ethnicity, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. Board activities are guided by the strategic plan, a statement of individual commitment from each board member, and shared resource-development goals. The board considers potential new members based on how their skills, capacity, and interests match the current and future needs of the organization as well as general board criteria. The board evaluates existing members based on their fulfillment of their individual commitments.
The board meets quarterly and is responsible for governance. Committees, which meet between board meetings, carry out the work of the board. The standing committees of the board are the Finance Committee, the Fund Development Committee, and the Nominating Committee. Each committee has a board member chair and can include volunteers from the community as committee members or as co-chair.
If you are interested in joining the board, inquire at info@deeplyrootedproductions.org; Subject Line: BOARD OF DIRECTORS INQUIRY. Please attach your resume and biography.
Board Members
Daniel O. Ash,
Board Chair
President, The Field Foundation of Illinois
Judith Cothran M.D.,
Board Vice-Chair
Founder and Medical Director, Women’s Health of Chicago
Otis Richardson,
Board Secretary
Customer Service Rep Tribune Designer/Illustrator Media Services
Wei Aniton,
Board Treasurer
Founder, WEIGH IN NATION
Gary Abbott,
Associate Artistic Director
Assistant Professor of Modern Dance, University of Kansas City Missouri
Jane C. Brownley
Director in Wireless Standards, Nokia – Retired
Nicole Clarke-Springer,
Artistic Director
Freelance Choreographer, Dance Educator, Adjunct Professor in Dance, Northwestern University
Makeda Crayton,
Executive Director
Kevin Iega Jeff,
Co-Founder/ Executive/ Artistic Director Emeritus
Creative Director, Choreographer, and Dance Educator
Philippe Ravanas
Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Columbia College Chicago
Parle Roe-Taylor, Esq.
Deputy Public Defender
Municipal Operations, Litigation and Support
Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Lovetta Spencer,
Senior Relationship Manager/Vice President, U.S. Bank
Willette Wooden
Owner & CEO Goodwine W.Publishing, LLC, Independent Gospel Artist, “WILLETTE G” Lead Singer, Choral Arts Choir, Low Country Voices, Department of Veteran Affairs, Evenue Pastor, Author
*Private access
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is a group of professionals who consult and actively mobilize their knowledge and resources and provide expertise as needed. The Advisory Board members have no legal or fiduciary responsibilities but are advocates for the company’s mission and serve as an integral part of Deeply Rooted’s operations. Advisory Board activities are driven by an Advisory Board Member Plan.
Richard Cahan
W. Imara Canady
Tanya Hickson
Calvin Holmes
Jennifer Jackson
Anjali Johnson
Deborah Love
Omari Kamal
Adrienne Kostreva
Laurel Lipkin
Fred L. Miller Jr.
R. Bernard Mims
Valda Staton
Johnathan A. Thomas
Cindy Wonzy-Carl