A Legacy in Motion

Photo by Adrienn Rose

Chloe Redman’s Journey into Arts Leadership

As of July 1st, 2026, I have accepted the role of Co-Executive Director of ArtSparks after working within the organization for five years as a teaching artist and administrator. I am incredibly honored to have been trusted with this duty by founder Kara Cea, as I help usher the organization forward. This will be the first time in the organization's history that someone other than the founder herself has led the organization.

I have lived in Akron my entire life, and growing up immersed in dance shaped me into the person I am today. It gave me confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging long before I understood the full weight of what those things would mean for my future. Now, I get to help create that same access for the next generation of dancers right here in the community that raised me, and I couldn't be more excited to continue expanding what that access looks like for students across Akron and Summit County.

What makes this moment even more meaningful is that Kara was actually my ballet teacher long before she was my colleague. To go from being her student to now standing beside her in leadership, entrusted with something she so carefully built, is a full-circle moment I don't take lightly. It is a great honor to help carry forward an organization that shaped me long before I ever imagined I'd help lead it.

This role also carries a deeper meaning for me. As a young Black woman stepping into a leadership position, I know how important it is for other young Black women to see themselves reflected in roles like this one. Representation in leadership isn't just symbolic; it tells the next generation that their voices belong in the room where decisions are made, and that leadership is something they can step into as well. I hope my journey can be a small part of showing them that.

Moving forward, my focus is on helping sustain ArtSparks so that the children of Summit County can continue to experience the joy, connection, and confidence that dance and music bring into their lives. I am deeply grateful to the community that has supported this work for over a decade, and grateful for the chance to carry that legacy forward for the students still to come.

Written by Chloe Redman