BAA mentioned in Politico!

 on the horizon and the new school building at 174 Ipswich St. opening, Boston Arts Academy Foundation staff are back in the Fenway neighborhood, meeting with local businesses and residents. It has been years since Boston Arts Academy could call its original location home. Ground level grassroots work is under way to ensure that the community is aware and ready to make the welcome warm and energetic. The excitement is palpable!

A lot of BAA Foundation’s time and energy is going into the many grand opening and 25th anniversary events, including BAA Foundation’s signature fundraising event each year for the students of Boston Arts Academy: 

. These events deserve to be as grand and spectacular as the impact BAA has made on so many young artists-scholars. These events will help raise the funds necessary for the school’s continued excellence in arts education. 

 BAAF staff Adam & Marina outside the 126 Brookline office ready to meet new people.

It is important that BAA and BAAF have positive partnerships with local businesses. A neighborhood network of organizations and individuals supporting each other will help amplify the Fenway community’s vibrant viability, and also ensure our students feel seen and welcomed. So, if you are interested in learning more and meeting with staff, send us an email 

There are many ways you can contribute and many ways we can help each other, e.g. 

Neighborhood Networking - Boston Arts Academy Foundation & Fenway Area

NESN Interviews Anne Clark & 2022 Commencement Speaker, Brighton Kaoma

Happy Friday! I'd like to introduce you to 

Boston Arts Academy Foundation's new Vice President of Philanthropy, 

I sat down with Aisha to ask her a few questions about her experience in the non-profit industry, what she is most looking forward to this year in her new role at BAA Foundation, and why she wants to support the students of Boston Arts Academy.

Tell us about your background, and your experience in the non-profit industry.

 I started my career in the not-for-profit sector after working at the Boston Globe newspaper for 20 years. My goal was to take all my executive experience, board experience and governance experience and become a development or fundraising professional for mission-based philanthropic initiatives. Hence, the rest is history and subsequently I have held leadership positions at Wheaton College, Milton Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton, The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, and Parents Helping Parents.

Why are you passionate about BAA Foundation’s mission in providing equitable access to life-changing opportunities to Boston Arts Academy’s students?

 BAA is a Boston-based public school that is likely to be mistaken for a private school. However, its students and families come from the local neighborhoods and its diversity and inclusivity represents the community in which it serves. This 25-year-old inspirational arts institution is filled with committed leaders, faculty, and staff! The 25th Anniversary year of the school coincides with the Grand Opening of the new school building located on 174 Ipswich Street and stands as a beacon for all the supporters, funders, and numerous stakeholders. BAA has access to resources and opportunities that help students to be more effective learners in school and to be successful in future careers, including top notch jobs in Fashion, Film & Television, Visual Arts, Dance and Music. This is evident in the many success stories of BAA alumni.

What are you looking forward to contributing to this year, with the Grand Opening of the new BAA school building?

 As the new Vice President of Philanthropy, firstly, I am extremely elated to join such a stellar team of BAAF staff and to work each day knowing that I’ve made a difference in a young person’s life. Secondly, I consider myself a lover of the arts and my observation is that art represents culture, creativity, and stimulates all our innate senses as well as draws people together. Therefore, I am looking forward to contributing my people skills, work experiences, professional network, and resources to making the strategic and fundraising goals for the 

What’s your favorite shows, performances, and/or artists?

 My favorite shows and performances are The Wiz, The Phantom of the Opera, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Beauty and The Beast, Dreamgirls, The Color Purple, The Lion King, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Black Nativity and Hamilton.

I particularly enjoy listening to music and my favorite genres are Jazz and R&B: Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Shirley Horn, George Benson, Nat King Cole, Hugh Masekela, Celia Cruz, Sade, Aretha Franklin, Jonathan Butler, Najee, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley...just to name a few!

Have more questions? Or, want to grab coffee with Aisha? 

Caitlin Durkin, Events & Communications Manager, BAA Foundation

Meet BAA Foundation's New VP of Philanthropy, Aisha Saunders-Jackson!

 A resident of Milton, Lorick-Wilmot holds a B.A. in Sociology from Trinity College – Hartford and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Northeastern University. She also holds a Graduate certificate in Women’s Studies from the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women & Sexuality at Radcliffe College/Harvard University.

Lorick-Wilmot’s work focuses on issues impacting diverse racial-ethnic and immigrant communities across the country. She is an affiliated faculty member in the Africana Studies Program in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at Northeastern University and a sociology senior lecturer in the College of Professional Studies. She is also Northeastern’s first recipient of the Scholar-in-Residence award at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute.

Stories of Identity among Black, Middle Class, Second Generation Caribbeans: We, Too, Sing America, 

several white papers and book chapters, and editor of a forthcoming anthology of creative works.

“Boston Arts Academy is full of talented and diverse students who represent the spirit and energy of our community,” said 

. “I am thrilled to join the BAA Foundation Board and look forward to creating opportunities for and supporting BAA students in their new state-of-the-art building as they continue to excel in the arts and their futures.”

“Dr. Lorick-Wilmot is an esteemed educator and activist,” said 

BAA Foundation President and CEO Denella J. Clark

. “Her commitment to supporting diversity and empowering our city’s youth align with our vision at the Boston Arts Academy Foundation. We are delighted to have Dr. Lorick-Wilmot join our Board.”

 In addition to her work in academia, Lorick-Wilmot hosts a podcast titled 

Talking Journeys of Belonging 2 Blackness

, with listeners in 30+ countries worldwide, and a YouTube channel to empower marginalized and historically disenfranchised communities to tell their own stories about challenging structures of oppression. She holds numerous awards, including the 2020-2021 Gloria E. Anzaldúa Award from the American Studies Association’s Committee on Gender and Sexuality; as well as several fellowships and honors from the American Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, “Women of Distinction in Race and Gender Equity” from El Noticiero Popular Panemeno, and the Institute of Pan American Affairs.

Read her profile in Boston Business Journal's People on the Move 

SCHOLAR-ACTIVIST, DR. YNDIA LORICK-WILMOT, ELECTED TO BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

A resident of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, Brown specializes in securities, corporate and regulatory law and counsels clients on business and financial regulatory issues. She joined Markun, Zusman, Freniere and Compton in September, 2013 and previously served as General Counsel and Managing Director at LPL Financial. She received a B.A. degree, cum laude, from Bryn Mawr College and a JD from Catholic University of America. She is a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bars.

“Supporting Boston’s cultural and art endeavors is a passion for me,” said Brown. “I look forward to serving Boston Arts Academy Foundation’s Board as we work to increase fundraising and outreach. Together we can help to grow the next generation of artists, scholars and engaged global citizens in our city.” 

“Stephanie Brown brings a unique skillset to our Board,” said BAA Foundation President and CEO

. “Her partnership as BAA Foundation’s new Investment Committee Chair is pivotal in the Foundation and Boston Arts Academy’s ability to create opportunities for the students we serve.”

Stephanie Brown is philanthropically involved in a number of organizations across the city in addition to Boston Arts Academy Foundation, including Boston Ballet, Rosie’s Place, Museum of Fine Arts, Celebrity Series of Boston, and Boston Philharmonic Board of Overseers. She is also a trustee at Bryn Mawr College and the Farnsworth Art Museum.

Community News

BAA mentioned in Politico!

Neighborhood Networking - Boston Arts Academy Foundation & Fenway Area

NESN Interviews Anne Clark & 2022 Commencement Speaker, Brighton Kaoma

Meet BAA Foundation's New VP of Philanthropy, Aisha Saunders-Jackson!

SCHOLAR-ACTIVIST, DR. YNDIA LORICK-WILMOT, ELECTED TO BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STEPHANIE BROWN, ATTORNEY AND PHILANTHROPIST, ELECTED TO CHAIR BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY FOUNDATION INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

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