News & Publications

MARWEN ANNOUNCES ALEXANDRA FIELD

AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

(Chicago, IL – December 12, 2019) Marwen is excited to announce that Alexandra (Alex) Field has been named Director of Development. In her role, Alex will work closely with leadership to design and implement fundraising strategies that actively expand and deepen support across all of Marwen’s revenue streams.

“Educating and inspiring young people through the arts is of personal importance to me and foundational to my career,” said Alex. “Throughout my childhood, museums, arts organizations, and community centers were safe spaces where I built confidence, experienced worlds outside my own, and learned important life skills. I am honored and humbled to be able to contribute to an organization that extends those same opportunities for Chicago’s young people from under-resourced communities and schools.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Alex,” said Akilah Halley, Marwen’s Executive Director. “Alongside her enthusiasm and passion for Marwen’s work, she brings a depth of experience in individual and institutional giving strategies which will help ensure our long-term growth and sustainability.”

Originally from Southern California, Alex spent the past decade honing her experience in Chicago’s iconic cultural institutions. Most recently, she was the Assistant Director of Individual Giving at the John G. Shedd Aquarium where she focused on building a leadership giving program to promote long term financial sustainability. Previously, she held development roles at the University of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago, where she focused on fostering transformative and sustainable relationships with funders and institutional supporters, all while continually developing opportunities to leverage program impact.

Alex is also committed to the advancement of the development field. She serves on the Museum Council for the Museum of Contemporary Photography and on the Board of Directors for the Development Leadership Consortium, which hosts professional development programs for early- and senior-level fundraising professionals. Alex participates in civic opportunities by serving as an election judge and also loves exploring Chicago's ever-growing food scene.

ABOUT MARWEN

Since 1987, Marwen has educated and inspired young people from Chicago’s under-resourced communities and schools through the visual arts. Having served more than 10,000 students, Marwen continues to provide free art courses, college planning, and career development programs to 6-12th graders who have come from 55 of Chicago’s 57 zip codes. For more information visit marwen.org.

Students & families,

In response to the CTU teachers strike and in solidarity with educators, young people, and their families, Marwen opens its doors from 8:30 am to 5 pm each day of the strike to young people in grades 2-12. This includes all CPS students as well as Marwen students and their siblings.

Marwen’s commitment to inspiring and educating Chicago youth from under-resourced communities and schools is paramount during this time. In alignment with our mission and eligibility requirements, we encourage families who are unable to afford alternate, paid contingency sites for their students to participate at Marwen.

Families who are able to access paid contingency site options can find a site locator and several site options (paid and unpaid) here: https://www.ilraiseyourhand.org/2019_possible_strike_resources.

With support from staff, teaching artists, and volunteers, Marwen is providing free artmaking workshops, access to computers, movies, and other activities in our studios and gallery during the strike.

In partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, snacks and lunch will be provided during the strike. Young people with dietary restrictions are encouraged to bring their own lunch and snacks.

All young people who are not currently enrolled in Marwen programming will need to have a signed parent or guardian permission form to participate. Forms will be available at the front desk.

There is no pre-registration required. Students and parents or guardians will register upon arrival each morning of the strike. Young people (grades 2-12) are welcome until we meet capacity. We will post all updates on our social pages and news page (links below). Please, no phone calls.

https://marwen.org/news-and-publications

https://www.facebook.com/MarwenChicago/

https://www.instagram.com/marwenarts/

https://twitter.com/marwenarts

For additional resources related to the CTU teachers strike, please visit: https://cps.edu/contingencyplan/

Questions can be directed to Aurora Toshiko King, Marwen’s Director of Education, at aking@marwen.org. Media inquiries can be directed to Kennon Reinard at kreinard@marwen.org.

In community,

Marwen staff

MARWEN ANNOUNCES AURORA TOSHIKO KING

AS DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

“I believe that art and creative expression are fundamental to our humanity and essential for our collective liberation.” -- Aurora Toshiko King

(Chicago, IL – April 1, 2019) Marwen is excited to announce that Aurora Toshiko King has been named Director of Education as of April 1. In her role, Aurora will work closely with leadership to set a strategic vision across all program areas: studio programs; teaching artist professional development opportunities; college, career and alumni initiatives; and student and family engagement efforts. She will shape vision for education at Marwen, centered around youth development.

“Marwen helps young people shape pathways to thrive as individuals and creative contributors to our collective community,” said Executive Director Akilah Halley. “We’re excited to welcome Aurora and learn from her experience in creative youth development methodologies rooted in social justice. She fully embodies Marwen’s values of creativity, empathy, agency, reciprocity, inclusion, collaboration, and reflection. We’re energized by how we can evolve with her leadership.”

“I have had the opportunity to collaborate with the most incredible young people, teaching artists, staff, families, and partners through my work,” said Aurora. “I look forward to learning from and forming relationships with the team at Marwen as well as artists and educators across Chicago. I have been inspired by artists, community arts organizations, and arts education work in Chicago for years and am thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from the brilliance and complexity of this incredible city.”

Aurora Toshiko King’s experience includes working as an educator and administrator in Oakland and San Francisco public schools. She was most recently the Director of Programs at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland, California, where she worked to develop social-justice-focused creative youth development programs. Born and raised in the tomato belt of Northern California, she worked in close collaboration with educators, teaching artists, and administrators in Bay Area public schools and community based organizations to bring creative expression into the education system in ways that were sustainable, equitable, and culturally responsive.

Prior to Destiny, Aurora worked as the Program Manager at Performing Arts Workshop in San Francisco where she deepened the organization’s work in the neighborhood by collaborating with educators and administrators to create culturally responsive programs. She also supports state, local, and national efforts to advance equity in the arts and is an active participant in the Creative Youth Development National Partnership. She has worked closely with leaders at the National Guild for Community Arts Education to highlight the importance of using a social justice framework for creative youth development. Aurora is also a mother, an artist, and an advocate. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.

ABOUT MARWEN

Since 1987, Marwen has educated and inspired young people from Chicago’s under-resourced communities and schools through the visual arts. Now, in its 31st year and having served more than 10,000 students, Marwen continues to provide free art courses, college planning, and career development programs to 6-12th graders who have come from 55 of Chicago’s 57 zip codes. For more information visit marwen.org

"Marwen has done so much for me. Honestly, without Marwen, I probably wouldn't be going to college, and I wouldn't feel like I could take art as a career. I probably would've been stuck not knowing what to do."