Meet the Staff: Renee Aguilar

Cultural Coalition is proud to announce that it has hired its first full time employee! Please join us in welcoming our new Assistant Director Renee Aguilar. Renee has been working with Cultural Coalition part time as a contract employee since 2020, assisting with marketing, public relations, grant writing, and our Mask Alive Museum & Cultural Center project. Thanks to a variety of operational support grant funding, Carmen Guerrero, Cultural Coalition’s Executive Director, saw an opportunity to bring her onboard full time.

“When Carmen approached me about the possibility of working with Cultural Coalition full time, I was very excited!” says Renee. “Working with Carmen and Zarco and their team over the last few years has been a dream. Their dedication to local artists, advocacy through the arts, preserving cultural heritage, and providing a fair, caring, and equitable work environment is what all organizations should be striving for.”

Renee describes herself as an arts and culture advocate who has dedicated her career to working with a variety of Phoenix non-profit organizations. She received her B.A. in anthropology from Arizona State University, and her M.A. in museum studies from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Previously serving as the Marketing Director at Phoenix Center for the Arts, she has had the opportunity to wear many hats throughout her career. Her arts and culture journey began with an internship at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, and continued with positions in some of Arizona’s amazing cultural and historic institutions including Phoenix Art Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, Historic Sahuaro Ranch, and the Arizona State Capitol Museum.

“I remember the first time I learned about Cultural Coalition. I was working at the Arizona Book Festival for Pueblo Grande Museum, and I saw one of Zarco’s performances. I was laughing so hard and also so excited to learn more about the organization.” Renee continued, “From there I started going to their festivals, and following their organization. When I had a chance to work with them on a grant proposal in partnership with Pueblo Grande Museum in 2018, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.”

As a full time employee with Cultural Coalition, we’re excited to have Renee expanding her role and responsibilities in the organization to grow our programs and projects, and build on our capacity to fundraise through grants, sponsorships, and individual giving. “I am looking forward to growing with Cultural Coalition and being part of an organization that has such a rich history and deep connection to the community. Not everyone is lucky enough to be given such a wonderful opportunity to work in the field they want, for a company they believe in, with people who are passionate, kind, and eager to share their knowledge in order for others to flourish.”