Patrick Brien, Executive Director of the Riverside Arts Council and member of the Californians for the Arts and California Arts Advocates boards (left), and Kathy Gallegos, Founder/Director of Avenue 50 Studio in Los Angeles and Council Member of the California Arts Council (right) present Congressman Ken Calvert, 42nd District Representative, with the 2020 Public Leadership in the Arts Award. Since 1997, Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors have presented award to individuals whose vision and leadership have been instrumental to the arts.

Most known for co-teaching the Musical Theater Workshop at UCLA, Creating and Directing the dance program at Notre Dame Academy High School, and teaching at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences where she was the middle school dance teacher and Middle School Dance Company Director. It was through her teaching career where Ricka created Dance and Dialogue, a non-profit organization created to bring people together to address the fears that divide them. Founded on the principles of equity and equality for all, Dance and Dialogue has been recognized by the Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles and the Violence Prevention Coalition of Los Angeles for community leadership and vision.

In 2016, Steph Johnson co-founded a choir for people experiencing homelessness. Today, the Voices of Our City Choir has swelled to 225 members and helped over 55 of its members get off the street and into housing. Johnson became a spokesperson and the choir became a symbol of what a grassroots effort can accomplish. Johnson and members of her staff sit on local homeless committees and boards, and advise the city council and the mayor’s office on issues.

“The arts possess an innate quality that welcomes people of all abilities to participate and express themselves. For people with disabilities, the arts become an important vehicle for self-expression, finding one’s voice, gaining confidence, and developing a sense of self-worth. “The Very Special Arts” Festival creates the opportunity to recognize the talents, efforts, and accomplishments of artists with disabilities, offer awareness to the general public of these accomplishments, and provide education on the diversity of differently-abled people. The impact of this one-day festival is great, as we witness the collaborations of community organizations and schools, the pride of our student participants and their families, and the mentoring of adults with disabilities as role models to the younger generation.”

“The arts help us reflect who we are. The arts remind us of what we each have to offer and what we all have in common. Through the arts, we gain an understanding of our history and create our future in ways that both propel and bring us together. As we transition into a new normal people will return to engaging in the arts albeit in a new way.”

“Throughout the world in all its incarnations, artists express the core ideas of various collective experiences. The unique opportunity extended to us by the current pandemic is a vibrant, caring global community bringing forth daily its creative potential and we look forward to being with you on this new journey.”

County Department of Education Music Arts Administrators Boardmember, CA Arts Council panelist, ArtsOC Boardmember, and founder/CEO of the Arts & Learning Conservatory, Debora Wondercheck counts it a true privilege to serve children, their families, and the community with successful and inspiring programs that develop confidence and creativity for life. counts it a true privilege to serve children, their families, and the community with successful and inspiring programs that develop confidence and creativity for life.

Honored by Morgan Holcomb

Artist/Owner of Milk Oolong Studio in San Diego, Leah Schaperow is a ceramic artist and teacher who creates decorative and functional works that are inspired by the human attempt to control nature.

“The artist's role during a crisis is to remind the world of what is important. Art can calm the body and mind. Art can be therapy to a world that is sad, confused, and hurting. Being involved in the art process gives people something to focus on that will bring confidence and a different way to approach problems.”

Harry Weston, Principal Dancer & Partnerships Manager, Versa-Style, has since traveled all over the world teaching and performing in places such as India, Israel, Philadelphia, Oregon, New York, and San Francisco. In 2012, after graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in World Arts and Cultures with a concentration in Dance, plus a minor in Civic Engagement.

Self-employed creatives have questions, and so to get some answers, we talked to Edmond Velasco, musician, Californians for the Arts board member, and vice president of the Orange County Musicians Association.