New Chapter: Rolling Up Our Sleeves Together

Philadelphia, PA — CultureWorks is in transition. New board leadership. New co-chairs. New leadership adjustment. On the surface, that's a lot of change.

With all this in flight, it was important for the board and staff to convene in-person on July 20th at the Forman Arts Initiative. We spent the day building bridges toward shared understanding and making CultureWorks even stronger for the artists, creators, and cultural projects that make up our community.

A Refreshed Board, Ready to Dig In

This summer, four new board members joined our leadership team, including Rachel E. Branson, Cynthia Dahl, Deone Powell, and Jim Schofield. We are excited, committed, and ready to roll up their sleeves to help us grow. But instead of lengthy introductions, we all decided to focus on what actually matters: what we're going to do together.

The day centered on three things: what our values look like in practice, how board and staff commit to working together, and where our board roles and responsibilities need more clarity as we grow. 

Building on Shared Values

We grounded the day in CultureWorks' core values — Be Empathetic, Be Equitable, Be Creative, Be Bold, and Share — and worked through what they actually look like in day-to-day decisions, not just words on a website. From there, the group built out agreements for how the board and staff will work together, and examples of what we aligned on:

• We center members in our work and decision-making

• We elevate issues early and collaboratively problem-solve

• We hold ourselves and each other accountable

• We address issues directly and respectfully

• We actively build a community that reflects diverse identities and perspectives

These aren't aspirational. They're the operating system we're committing to for how this board and staff will function.

Here's What We're Focused On

CultureWorks is at an inflection point, and we are committed to building a sustainable future. The staff and board aligned around three strategic directions: Stewardship. Partnership. Momentum.

• Stewardship — managing our finances, building reserves, and organizing our operations so we're stable and transparent

• Partnership — connecting with the broader community, deepening relationships, and giving members real leadership roles

• Momentum — making sure our space thrives, supporting the team that makes it all work, and building systems for sustainable growth

Supporting Ariel's Leadership

This year, Ariel Shelton is stepping into the role of Executive Director. This is a planned evolution, not a departure. The reason for this shift is to focus on strengthening and growing our staff team's capacity. We're investing in the systems, tools, and people that make the organization run smoothly. And we're doing this intentionally, so that when we return to co-leadership in the future, it will be healthier and more sustainable.

And Ariel doesn't carry this alone. The board made a clear commitment: we're here as strategic partners. We're committing to:

• Helping the organization to have the resources it needs

• Opening doors through our networks and building relationships with funders

• Showing up beyond board meetings and engaging in the various Culture Works events

The board and staff are aligned, energized, and ready. We're honored to serve CultureWorks' community during this exciting transitional moment.

— Annie Chiu-McCabe & Caralyn Spector, CultureWorks Co-Chairs