It’s no secret that working in creative fields can be challenging in any city and at any point in time. And if you experience the world as a BIPOC creative, arts leader and Racial equity practitioner Leilani Lewis has some back-to-basics tips for taking care of yourself and protecting your work. Leilani sits down with Executive Director, Amy Lillard, to talk about it.
Leilani Lewis is a Seattle-born arts leader and anti-racism/DEI practitioner. Her passion for the arts and social justice led her to the Northwest African American Museum where she served in a number of roles for eight years. Now at the University of Washington, she uses her experience working in and with Black-led organizations to develop equity and anti-racism strategy across the institution. As a higher education administrator with foundations in arts and culture, she has established herself as a creative catalyst and leader working on behalf of historically marginalized communities.
Whether through independent equity consultation, arts advocacy or strategy development, she focuses on breaking down barriers to address racism within organizations while strengthening the bonds that draw people for collective impact. As a Seattle University alumni and graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, Ms. Lewis is driven by her values that include shared leadership, connecting across differences, and lifting as we climb.
