Our Team
Below you will find our Leadership Team and Board of Directors.
co-founder | Ex-officio Board member: DR. CHE “RHYMEFEST” SMITH
Dr. Che “Rhymefest” Smith is a Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award–winning artist, civic leader, and cultural strategist whose work bridges hip-hop, education, and public life. A lifelong South Side Chicagoan, Che brings the voice of an artist and innovator directly into institutions shaping policy, culture, and community development.
In 2024, Che was elected to the Chicago Board of Education, helping govern one of the nation’s largest public school systems and shape policy impacting more than 320,000 students. His presence in civic leadership reflects a career-long commitment to youth empowerment, equity, and the belief that creativity is foundational to democracy.
Internationally recognized for co-writing “Jesus Walks” with Kanye West and the Academy Award–winning anthem “Glory” with Common and John Legend for the film Selma, Che has consistently elevated hip-hop as a vehicle for storytelling, social consciousness, and collective memory. His film work includes the acclaimed documentary In My Father’s House and a role in The Public.
Che’s thought leadership extends into higher education and public discourse. As a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College and a Pritzker/Axelrod Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, he led seminar series exploring “Culture as Currency” — examining how creativity and narrative shape institutions, influence policy, and build communal power. In recognition of his cultural and community impact, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Chicago State University.
His humanitarian work has taken him across the African diaspora, including Mauritania and Senegal through the Abolition Institute, where he has led cross-cultural artistic collaborations rooted in dignity, freedom, and shared expression. His global engagement reflects a deep belief that art is a universal language capable of bridging communities and restoring possibility.
Che is a co-founder of Art of Culture, the South Side arts organization that evolved from the early work of Donda’s House, continuing its commitment to youth empowerment through creative expression. In his ex-officio board role, he supports the organization’s long-term vision to cultivate a youth-powered arts ecosystem—where creativity becomes infrastructure and cultural expression becomes legacy.
Guided by his enduring motto, “True Power Is the Power to Empower,” Che continues to build at the intersection of art, policy, and community—locally and globally.
PRESIDENT & CEO: Heather Smith
Heather Smith is a cultural leader, visual storyteller, and institution builder whose work bridges art, community, and global exchange. As President & CEO of Art of Culture, she leads the organization’s strategic growth—shaping a youth-powered arts ecosystems and building partnerships that connect creativity with long-term community infrastructure.
Heather brings a foundation in global business leadership, having held executive Human Resources roles at companies including Nike and Shure Inc. Her background in cross-cultural intelligence, talent development, and organizational strategy informs the systems she builds today—ensuring that creativity is supported by strong governance, sustainable structure, and long-term vision.
Within Art of Culture, Heather has spent years designing and leading initiatives that center youth voice, cultural confidence, and healing through creative expression. She has guided programs such as Smiling Eyes, led national cultural partnerships including Art of Culture’s Youth Immersion Day with Lollapalooza, and co-developed a Youth Culture Exchange Retreat connecting Black and Indigenous youth through shared history, nature, and storytelling. Her leadership reflects a belief that art is essential to identity, creativity, and possibility.
Heather is also a Humanitarian Delegate and Photographer with the Abolition Institute, traveling to Mauritania and Senegal to document peace-building efforts and cross-cultural collaboration. Through her photography practice, Akosua Images, she creates documentary and fine art work that honors the quiet power of everyday life across the African diaspora and beyond.
Whether leading institutional strategy or standing behind the lens, Heather works at the intersection of imagination and infrastructure—ensuring creativity is supported, youth voices are amplified, and cultural work is built to endure. She believes institutions should reflect the communities they serve, and that art, when nurtured with intention, becomes legacy.
Director of Cultural Strategy & Narrative Stewardship: Ajhana Crecelius
Ajhana Crecelius serves as Director of Cultural Strategy & Narrative Stewardship at Art of Culture, where she leads the intentional alignment of story, strategy, and community-centered cultural programming. Rooted in a family legacy that values history, resilience, and collective care, Ajhana approaches her work with a deep respect for the power of narrative and creative expression.
She ensures that every initiative, from cultural programming to artist incubators, reflects authentic community voices while strengthening the creative ecosystem. Blending strategic framework design with cultural preservation, Ajhana translates vision into sustainable platforms that elevate artists, foster collaboration, and expand opportunity.
Guided by the belief that culture is both expression and responsibility, she works to ensure that Art of Culture remains a space where stories are honored, artists are supported, and communities are empowered to shape their own creative futures.
director of artist & youth programs: peridot smith
Peridot Smith is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, creative consultant, and curriculum strategist working at the intersection of hip-hop, poetry, the arts, and education. As an emcee and educator, she bridges creative practice and pedagogy—designing and facilitating culturally grounded learning ecosystems that position hip-hop and the arts as transformative tools for self-expression, social-emotional development, and collective belonging.
With more than 20 years of experience teaching from pre-K through university level, Smith is a certified educator in General Education, Special Education, and Visual Arts. For over a decade, she has specialized in hip-hop education, integrating cultural practice with formal academic instruction in both national and international contexts. She previously served as Chief Curriculum Officer for the Hip Hop Education Center and has developed curriculum frameworks for university coursework at Monroe University. Her work centers on identity development, critical thinking, authentic self-expression, and the cultivation of cultural awareness and collective belonging.
An international cultural ambassador through the U.S. State Department’s Next Level program in partnership with Meridian International Center, Smith advances Hip-Hop as both archive and conduit for connection, resistance, and communal healing across classroom, stage, and global exchange.
Currently serving as Director of Artist & Youth Programs, Smith leads the design and implementation of interdisciplinary arts programming that amplifies youth voice, strengthens cultural literacy, and fosters creative leadership. Through workshops, mentorship, exhibitions, and community-based initiatives, she advances the arts as a platform for empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainable community building.