Deborah Willis—MacArthur and Guggenheim fellow—is a celebrated author, photographer, and NYU professor who lives in New York City. Robin D. G. Kelley wrote the foreword to both editions of Reflections in Black. He is the author of several books, including the prize-winning Thelonious Monk. Kalia Brooks is a Program Officer at Fundamental Philanthropy, where she stewards grantmaking for The Hearthland Foundation—an organization that champions justice, equity, and connection through the power of art and storytelling. With a background spanning arts, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, Brooks supports artists and creative organizations working at the intersection of culture and social change. She leads strategy, manages diverse grant portfolios, and cultivates relationships across the visual arts ecosystem to amplify narratives that reimagine our shared democracy. Grounded in equity and driven by curiosity, Brooks brings a curator’s eye and a strategist’s mind to her work—valuing imagination, collaboration, and creative risk. Whether developing new funding pathways or convening artists and cultural leaders, she is committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive arts landscape where visionary ideas can thrive, and communities can connect.

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Deborah Willis—MacArthur and Guggenheim fellow—is a celebrated author, photographer, and NYU professor who lives in New York City. Robin D. G. Kelley wrote the foreword to both editions of Reflections in Black. He is the author of several books, including the prize-winning Thelonious Monk. Kalia Brooks is a Program Officer at Fundamental Philanthropy, where she stewards grantmaking for The Hearthland Foundation—an organization that champions justice, equity, and connection through the power of art and storytelling. With a background spanning arts, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, Brooks supports artists and creative organizations working at the intersection of culture and social change. She leads strategy, manages diverse grant portfolios, and cultivates relationships across the visual arts ecosystem to amplify narratives that reimagine our shared democracy. Grounded in equity and driven by curiosity, Brooks brings a curator’s eye and a strategist’s mind to her work—valuing imagination, collaboration, and creative risk. Whether developing new funding pathways or convening artists and cultural leaders, she is committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive arts landscape where visionary ideas can thrive, and communities can connect.

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Deborah Willis—MacArthur and Guggenheim fellow—is a celebrated author, photographer, and NYU professor who lives in New York City. Robin D. G. Kelley wrote the foreword to both editions of Reflections in Black. He is the author of several books, including the prize-winning Thelonious Monk. Kalia Brooks is a Program Officer at Fundamental Philanthropy, where she stewards grantmaking for The Hearthland Foundation—an organization that champions justice, equity, and connection through the power of art and storytelling. With a background spanning arts, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, Brooks supports artists and creative organizations working at the intersection of culture and social change. She leads strategy, manages diverse grant portfolios, and cultivates relationships across the visual arts ecosystem to amplify narratives that reimagine our shared democracy. Grounded in equity and driven by curiosity, Brooks brings a curator’s eye and a strategist’s mind to her work—valuing imagination, collaboration, and creative risk. Whether developing new funding pathways or convening artists and cultural leaders, she is committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive arts landscape where visionary ideas can thrive, and communities can connect.

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