Meet Aly: Artcorp Student Worker
Meet Cultural Coalition’s newest team member – Aly Masaquaptewa! Thanks to the Artcorp Student Worker grant program by City of Phoenix Department of Arts & Culture, we are one of 20 different arts nonprofits who were provided funding to hire undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the arts. As our new Arts & Community Outreach Coordinator, you will see Aly at our festivals, educational outreaches, and Mask Alive Art Collection Pop-up Exhibits!
Aly shared a bit about herself, her experience, and her career goals as an arts nonprofit leader in our community. Get to know her, and don’t forget to say “Hi” next time you see her to help us welcome her to Cultural Coalition!
Aly is a twenty-four year old Indigenous event coordinator and artist from the Hopi Tribe and belongs to the Greasewood Clan of Old Oraivi. Born and raised in Arizona, she grew up in the local music scene where she met Cultural Coalition’s Event Coordinator, Ami Rogers. She spent the past summer working large scale live music festivals in roles ranging from volunteer to overnight guest services intern at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Her local experience includes Mikiztli, Innings Fest, and Mesa Music Festival. At present, she is studying Music Business and American Indian Studies at Mesa Community College and looks forward to becoming a SunDevil in the fall.
She is an award winning artist, winning the national competition “Voting is Indigenous” hosted by National Urban Indian Family Coalition in 2020. Her art has been featured by community leaders such as Eighth Generation, Taboo (of the Black Eyed Peas), as well as by Deb Haaland, Secretary of the US Interior. One of her favorite projects was working with the American Indian Institute at Mesa Community College to create a mural signifying the bright future of Indigenous Students.
Her future ambition is to found a non-profit that will encourage Indigenous youth to pursue creative or non-traditional careers and provide them career services, workshops, and professional opportunities.
Portraits by Eligh Masaquaptewa (https://www.instagram.com/eligh.masa/)