AS220 Announces Newmann as New Co-Executive Director

AS220 Announces Newmann as New Co-Executive Director

AS220 has announced Anjel Newmann as the organization's new Co-Executive Director in partnership with Shauna Duffy. 

According to AS220, the appointment "recognizes the impact [Newmann] has made since she became part of AS220’s Leadership Team, particularly her vision for the organization’s Racial Justice Initiative and anti-racist work, and her tireless efforts to keep an equity focus front and center in AS220’s artistic programming and operations."

“I never left AS220 because it’s always been the place that seems to grow along with me. It's like a magical orb that transforms into the right shape and right size for my ever-growing wings," said Newmann. "To serve alongside Shauna at this critical juncture in AS220’s evolution is an honor and responsibility I am ready to hold. My vision for AS220 -- and the Rhode Island arts and culture sector more broadly -- is to shape a future rooted in justice, joy and possibility by committing to the following: 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Invest in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) leadership
Develop an anti-racist analysis and culture
Acknowledge the role that arts and culture institutions play in upholding white supremacy and their complicity in the oppression of Black and Brown people
Re-design systems that allow for the brilliance and creativity of BIPoC leadership to shape the future we want to live in
Ensure sure that Black and Brown young people are at the core of our work at AS220
Thank you to everyone who mentored me into this position, especially AS220’s founder Bert Crenca.”

About Newmann

Newmann's first introduction to AS220 was at age 13 as a member of the Youth program. She developed her talents as an emcee and dancer there, and regularly performed and toured with AS220 Youth’s performance group, Rhodeshow. In 2009, she was hired as Youth’s Performing Arts Coordinator, before being promoted to Director of AS220 Youth in 2015. During her time leading AS220 Youth, she devised Futureworlds, a nationally respected Afrofuturist-inspired curriculum and public showcase that unites the creative practice of the 450 young people who participate in the program each year. 

In 2018, Newmann was promoted to the role of Director of Programs and became a member of AS220’s newly formed Leadership Team. Since then, she has taken the lead on more closely aligning AS220 Youth and our community maker spaces, AS220 Industries; facilitating cross programmatic conversations about safety with the goal of creating a culture that does not rely on policing; developing plans and frameworks for reopening aspects of AS220’s programming, with a focus on community-driven processes; and continuing to develop innovative strategies to engage, support and serve AS220's community of artists and youth through the pandemic and beyond. 

Outside of AS220, Newmann is a member of the City of Providence's African American Ambassadors Group and advocated for the establishment of an Arts and Culture subgroup. She participates on several local school boards and is training to be a facilitator for the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond. She has served as a parent coordinator for the West Elmwood Intruders football team, given birth to two babies, mentored her two teenagers, and earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from College Unbound and Providence College respectively.