Our People

Executive Director

+ Deonté Griffin-Quick — Executive Director

Deonté Griffin-Quick, a New Jersey native, is a nationally recognized, award-winning actor, arts administrator, and consultant with a proven track record of envisioning and implementing change at the local, regional, and national levels. He most recently served as the inaugural Managing Director of External Affairs at Artist Communities Alliance (ACA), the international service organization for artist residency programs and artist-centered organizations. There, he supervised and developed strategic partnerships, programs, grantmaking initiatives, membership, and communications.

Prior to joining ACA, Griffin-Quick served as Director of Programs and Services at New Jersey Theatre Alliance, where he built lasting partnerships, led statewide initiatives, and oversaw programming supporting 42 professional theatre companies throughout New Jersey. He was also instrumental in developing initiatives including the Creating Change Network and the Career Accelerator Fellowship program.

In 2019, Griffin-Quick founded the New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color Network, a collective now serving more than 300 people statewide. He is the recipient of the inaugural Individual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and the Discover Jersey Arts Leadership Award from the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation.

Deonté currently serves on the Board of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the Creating Change Network steering committee, and ArtPride New Jersey’s Congressional District Action Team. He holds a B.A. in Theatre with a Communications minor from Kean University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University.

Executive Team

+ Amy Elise de Jong — Chair

Amy Elise de Jong has lived in Jersey City since 2008 and has contributed to the local arts community as a singer, actor, writer, visual artist, and organizer. She has helped curate and organize local arts events including the Cathedral Arts Festival and Digable Arts Festival, served on the founding committee for the Cathedral Arts Live performance series, and directs the annual Grace Church Holiday Concert.

De Jong worked in elementary education for 10 years and currently serves in an administrative role at Training The Street.

+ Mike Grabowski — Vice Chair

Mike Grabowski has been a resident of Jersey City since 2002. He works internationally as a Senior Lighting Designer with more than 20 years of television experience across major broadcast networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, MTV, Bravo, and CNN.

+ Elisha Dorsey — Secretary

Elisha Dorsey is the Founder and Executive Creative Director of Dorsey Design Studio, a premier digital design firm specializing in user experience (UX), product design, website development, advertising campaigns, and creative consultation.

With more than 10 years of experience, Elisha has transformed brands through immersive experiences, digital solutions, design-thinking workshops, and storytelling. He currently serves as a Senior Experience Strategist and Consultant at Verizon, leading digital transformation initiatives. Previously, he held leadership roles at R/GA, collaborating with Fortune 100 companies including Verizon, Google, Meta, Disney, and Goldman Sachs.

He holds degrees in Interactive Digital Design and Public Relations from Quinnipiac University and continues expanding his studio’s reach while pushing the boundaries of design, fine arts, and sustainability.

+ Zach Mayo — Treasurer

Zach Mayo has been a resident of Downtown Jersey City for the past three years and a resident of Hudson County for the past five. Professionally, he has worked as a Production Manager in the television industry for nearly a decade.

As a Production Manager, Zach specializes in logistics, including crew management, scheduling, equipment coordination, permitting, and studio operations. He is passionate about helping creative teams execute ambitious artistic visions while fostering safe, collaborative, and productive environments on set. His dedication to the collaborative spirit of production is what continues to drive his work in the industry.

Board Members

+ Alvin Pettit — Artist / Community Leader

Alvin Pettit is the Director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Center in Jersey City, as well as a member of the city’s Artist Certification Board and Public Art Advisory Committee. He also serves as President of the Bergen Hill Neighborhood Association. In addition to his civic leadership, Pettit is a well-regarded painter and sculptor.

+ Jeff Dess — Educator / Author / Speaker

Jeff Dess is an award-winning educator, best-selling author, and public speaker specializing in culturally responsive education. He is the Co-Founder of Trill or Not Trill, a disruptive educational firm and leadership institute. A TEDx speaker, Jeff has reached more than 100,000 learners through institutions and companies nationwide.

He is the author of seven books, including the Amazon bestseller We Wear Kicks To Work. In addition to his educational work, he has performed internationally as a spoken word poet throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. He currently serves as the Director of Leadership & Engagement at New Jersey City University.

+ Dawn Lucovich — Writer / Speaker / Cultural Organizer

Dawn Lucovich was most recently a founding faculty member of a new public university in Japan. Her international career has included work on film festivals in the United States, performing in radio plays in England, emceeing live art shows in Korea, and hosting monthly events dedicated to bringing creative communities together in Japan.

She was co-founder of the bilingual Japanese-English publication 10 Magazine, focused on artist interviews and photography in Tokyo. Dawn is also a Toastmaster, international plenary and keynote speaker, published poet, researcher, and book editor. She additionally holds certification in Japanese kimono dressing and studies tea ceremony.

+ Lexie Levin — Artist / Counselor / Arts Advocate

Lexie Levin has been an active member of Jersey City’s cultural community since 2007, contributing to numerous organizations and events in administrative, leadership, creative, and production capacities. She served as both Vice President and Treasurer of the Art House Productions Board of Directors from 2008–2013 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy.

As a mixed-media visual artist, Lexie has exhibited locally at LITM, Jersey City Theatre Center, and The Monroe Center, and has participated in JCAST, 14C Art Fair, and Digable Arts Festival. She has also performed at JC Writers’ Genre Nights, The Peanut Café, The Box Café, Krewe, and the Grace Church Annual Holiday Concert.

Professionally, Lexie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who believes advocating for the arts is deeply connected to advocating for the mental health and wellbeing of the community.

+ Cody Rapp — Strategic Advisor / Creative Economy Advocate

Cody Rapp is a leader whose career spans higher education, workforce development, and technology startups, including multiple early-stage companies focused on education, social justice, and economic mobility. He currently serves as Fractional Chief of Staff at CVL Economics, a creative economy consulting firm, where he drives strategic initiatives across business development, operations, and events.

Cody has played a significant role in building coalitions that uplift creative skills and invest in talent pipelines for the creative economy. He also operates his own fractional Chief of Staff practice supporting mission-driven entrepreneurs.

His leadership philosophy centers on creativity, connection, and human-centered growth. A former acrylic painter and recovering thespian, Cody describes himself as a “producer of experiences” and brings creative sensibility into all aspects of his work. He has proudly called Jersey City home for seven years and is passionate about supporting its local arts ecosystem.

+ Mackenzie Griffin — Brand Strategist / Production Consultant

Mackenzie Griffin is a brand strategist and production consultant working across cultural institutions and entertainment brands. Her experience includes collaborations with the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Apollo Theater Foundation, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, and the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board. She has also worked as a curatorial assistant to prominent private art collectors.

Her work focuses on expanding public access to the arts through media strategy, event production, and community engagement. Mackenzie is also the creator of Design Crimes, a growing digital platform that makes art history, design, and architecture accessible to broad audiences through compelling and often overlooked stories that encourage discourse.

She believes access, education, and strong storytelling are foundational to a thriving arts community and is excited to help continue building that in Jersey City.