The Umbrella
Community Advisory Squad
New Haven arts, civic, education, and neighborhood leaders helping shape a shared creative home at 280 Blake Street.
The Umbrella is being built with the community it intends to serve. This squad brings perspective from cultural organizing, local history, education, city arts leadership, neighborhood advocacy, journalism, and independent theater.
Community advisors
The people helping guide the project
Hope Chávez
Executive Director, Arts Council of Greater New Haven
City Point resident
Ife Michelle Gardin
Cultural Curator / Founder / Executive Director, KulturallyLIT / Elm City LIT Fest
West Hills resident
Frank Mitchell
Member, CT Humanities Board of Directors; Director Emeritus, The Amistad Center for Art & Culture
Fair Haven resident
Michael Morand
City Historian; Director, Community Engagement at Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Fair Haven resident
Babz Rawls Ivy
Editor-in-Chief, The Inner-City News; Host, LoveBabz LoveTALK
Newhallville resident
Kathy Russel Beck
Principal, L.W. Beecher Museum Magnet School
Hamden resident
Dexter Singleton
Artistic Director, Collective Consciousness Theatre
Beaver Hills resident
Lizzy Donius
Executive Director, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance
Beaver Hills resident
A shared home needs shared stewardship.
Learn more about the full vision for The Umbrella and the campaign to bring 280 Blake Street to life.