We are proud to share and honor alumni success stories from across the nation! This month, our alumni are celebrating undergraduate and graduate degrees, training programs, dream internships, career next steps, and more.
Celebrate access to arts education and alumni success with a gift to the ChiArts Foundation. Your support helps provide tuition-free and pre-professional arts training to Chicago's next generation of artists, creators, leaders, and community members.
2022 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
Raven Smith, a 2022 graduate of School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), was commissioned to create a piece this year for ChiArts Dance Conservatory's Journey of the Brown Tights. Raven has an online auction of original sketches and paintings that ends June 30th. Raven is a rising star and if you'd like to own a piece, now is your chance!
ALUMNI CAREER UPDATES
  • Adam Taylor Blackman, 14', taught theatre this semester at The New School, School of Drama
  • Carter Bracy, 15', is a Resource Development Fellow with New Jersey Community Capital
  • Caitlin Bratland, 13’, began her new role as Community Impact & Development Coordinator at the American Heart Association
  • Jordan Gamby, 17', started a new position as Resource Coordinator at SGA Youth and Family Services
  • Greer Hutchinson, 15', is the Executive Coordinator for the ChiArts Foundation and will be an Apprentice for Trifecta Dance Collective
  • Darien Payton, 16', Social and Brand Marketing Specialist at Career Karma, was recently featured in an article by Marketing Brew
  • Kayla Polakow, 19', is a Law Clerk Intern with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Kenthaney Redmond, 13', and Isaiah Collier, 15', were each named 2022 Luminarts Jazz Improvisation Fellows
  • Victor Roa, 16', is a Marketing and Development Assistant at Lotus Education and Arts Foundation with the Chicago Community Trust
  • Joel Ross, 13', is now a faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music
CAREER SPOTLIGHT
Ravyn Lenae β€™17 is Chicago’s newest musical powerhouse, taking over the contemporary R&B world by storm. After signing to Atlantic Records during her senior year at ChiArts, Ravyn has put out three EPs and released her first album, Hypnos, this May. Ravyn has been featured in publications such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, grammy.com, and this month took over NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert!

Check out Ravyn Lanae opening for Erykah Badu in Chicago at Ravinia Festival this September 11! Tickets here.
The ChiArts Alumni grad highlights included in this publication were complied as of June 20, 2022. If you have an update to share, please send a message to Program Manager, Karina Quintana at kquintana@chiartsfoundation.org