Advisory Committee

+ Ernie Paniccioli — Photographer

Ernie Paniccioli, a.k.a. Brother Ernie, has produced intimate portraits of hip-hop legends such as Notorious BIG and Salt n Pepa, and recently published the compilation Hip-Hop at the End of the World. Ernie has been recognized by Source magazine, Big Apple Film Festival, the Zulu Nation, and was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.

+ Heather Warfel Sandler — Director/ Artist

Warfel Sandler founded and directs the Dance Program at County Prep High School in Jersey City. She serves as a liaison to the Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists, and is an invited member of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion panel for the National Dance Education Organization. Warfel Sandler was as an Adjunct Professor at NJCU for over 10 years, and conceived and produces Dance for the Ages, a free public performance featuring dancers age 7-70, for Jersey City’s Summer in the City series. Warfel Sandler has had a decades-long career in the Jersey City arts community as a performer, visual artist, organizer and administrator.

Areas of expertise:

• Dance
• Collaboration/facilitation
• Small business operations
• Arts education

+ Hiyasmine Queen Gaskins — Youth Mural Arts Program

Artistic Afro (Hiyasmine Queen Gaskins) is a non-binary artist, muralist, and skateboarder based in Jersey City, NJ. They studied Fine Art at the School of Visual Arts, New Jersey City University, and Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy. Their artworks range from colorful natural illustrations to portraiture to influences from skateboarding culture. Follow their journey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @artisticafro

+ Katelyn Halpern — SMUSH Gallery

Katelyn Halpern is a multidisciplinary artist living in Jersey City, NJ. She makes dance work with her company Katelyn Halpern & Dancers, public art in commissioned and guerrilla styles, and all manner of studied and impertinent artwork with collaborators across the country. Raised in Austin, Texas, she moved to the east coast in 2010. She holds a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Dance from the University of Houston as well as a New Jersey teaching certificate for high school English, and she is a 2012 Teach for America New Jersey corps member. In 2018, she opened SMUSH Gallery, an art space dedicated to creative and community work in Jersey City.

Areas of expertise:

• Dance
• Collaboration/facilitation
• Small business operations
• Arts education

+ Kevin Clark — Grantmaking Consultant

Kevin Clark is a composer, grantmaker, and software consultant. Currently serving as a public software leadership consultant within VMware Tanzu Labs, Kevin got his start in software by building grantmaking systems for New Music USA, the MAP Fund, and others. A long-time resident of Jersey City, currently living in Seattle, perhaps his fondest wish is to come home and re-join a thriving cultural sector in Jersey City.

Areas of expertise:

• Non-profit management
• Mission/Vision facilitation and alignment
• Institutional snd Individual fundraising
• Grantmaking software and tools
• Grantmaking strategy and program officer roles
• Arts philanthropy industry trends
• Staff management
• Board governance
• Music
• Creative Placemaking
• Theater
• Post-Secondary arts education
• Arts entrepreneurship

+ Rimli Roy — Surati for Performing Arts

Rimli Roy is an artiste, choreographer, producer, and director breaking boundaries of traditional Indian performing art forms. Roy has trained in three distinct Indian classical forms by renowned masters in India – Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, and Odissi since age four, and also in piano and Hindustani classical vocals. Rimli's critically acclaimed original stage production, Ramaavan – A Musical, based on the Indian epic The Ramayana, addresses social issues, uses world genres, Indian dance and music, and an international cast.

Rimli is the Founder and Artistic Director of Surati for Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) organization that educates and enriches communities through original works, dance, music, theatre, events, and festivals while also promoting Indian art and culture. Rimlo, along with the Surati team, has performed at prestigious venues like the United Nations, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Library of Congress, Reichhold Center – University of the U.S Virgin Islands, Alaska Performing Arts Center, University of the West Indies in Barbados, and The World Financial Center Wintergarden.