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Administration

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Nina Woodruff-Walker, M.A.
Chief Executive Officer

Nina Woodruff-Walker (she/her), MOCHA's Chief Executive Officer, is an East Oakland native and became a “MOCHA kid” in 1989 when she connected through the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). When Oakland schools removed art programming from the curriculum, MOCHA became an art-making space and welcoming refuge during her teenage years. She found delight in identifying different ways to use art to create, express, shape and influence, even getting her first experience in giving back as a MOCHA youth board member. This cemented her passion for community service. Nina is a poet who loves visual arts and understands the value of providing a platform for children to express, create, and teach. ​ She entered the tech industry in 2000 – with a focus in project management which opened doors to a successful 10-year career in technology sales. During her master’s seminars at CSUEB, she studied Afrofuturism; she spearheaded an Afrofuturist exhibition and curriculum at MOCHA in 2020. Her master’s thesis was a Critical Discourse Analysis of the Framing of White Terrorism; this research has informed her practice and commitment to youth development. Her motto is, "Ideas are only great when we have the courage to give birth to them." To honor her inner child, she loves to laugh and play.

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Roxanne Padgett
Creative Director

Roxanne Padgett, she/her, born in Oakland, CA., is a mixed media artist and book-maker. MOCHA's Creative Director is responsible for Professional Development and Curriculum Development for the entire organization. Roxanne is a Visual Artist, Arts Educator, and Executive Administrator bringing more than 30 years of experience in multiple youth services and arts educational nonprofit organizations. She brings a combination of arts education practices, management experience, leadership ability, and a passion for the arts. The past 25 of those years have been spent working for MOCHA in a variety of capacities: Senior Teaching Artist, Program Manager, Curriculum Developer/Writer, Professional Development Coach, Director of Educational Programs, and Director of Programs. Roxanne is a certified arts integration coach, holds a teaching credential in visual art, and received a fellowship to attend Harvard’s Project Zero on arts education. Additionally, Roxanne’s artwork and articles have been published in several visual art periodicals. Roxanne is the author of “Acrylic Techniques in Mixed Media,” published by North Light Books, Arts Division. Roxanne honors her inner child by being a lifelong creative through hands-on art-making, making mistakes, experimenting, playing, and abundant curiosity.

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Kaya Fortune
Director of Curation & Culture Keeping
Founding Teaching Artist

Bio coming soon

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Jennifer Ross
Director of Development & Communications

Bio coming soon

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Simon Muturi
Chief Financial Officer (Contractor)

Bio coming soon

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LuzMarina Tovar
Community Arts Manager

Bio coming soon

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Jaee Sumter, M.F.A.
Health & Wellness Manager

Janae’ “Jaee” Sumter (they/them) is a nonbinary migrating New Orleanian with a widely diverse interdisciplinary creative practice and organizing background that centers on the liberation and empowerment of communities of color. Their practice uses collective storytelling, creative entrepreneurship, reiki, creativity coaching, agriculture, herbal medicine, dance, and holistic healing approaches as an educational tool for community understanding, empowerment, identity, ancestral connection, abundant mindset, food scarcity, liberation, global sovereignty, sustainability, and intergenerational healing. Jaee received their B.A.A. from Spelman College in Studio Art and their M.F.A. in Integrated Practices from Pratt Institute focusing on community art and healing justice. Jaee holds the Health and Wellness Manager and Instructional Coach role at the Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA). Jaee’s favorite artists are Sonia Sanchez, Faith Ringgold, Renee Stout & Beyte Saar. Jaee's favorite hobby that honors their inner child is building out and growing their own food & herbs in their garden. From their homegrown herbs and produce, Jaee loves cooking vegetarian soul food and making herbal products for sustainability, accessibly, nourishment and healing.

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Kellee Runnels
Operations Manager

Bio coming soon

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Shannon Meadors
Museum Programs Manager

Shannon Meadors (she/her) is a Southern California born/Northern California raised native. She earned her Bachelors of Art in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University. She enjoyed assisting with the Day Reporting Program at the Benton County Juvenile Detention while living in Washington State. Upon moving back to California in 2022, she joined MOCHA as Museum Programs Manager and is enjoying facilitating programming like camps, art parties, and open studio onsite for all the children the museum serves. Shannon honors her inner child by roller skating when she can and eating ice cream whenever the urge arises.

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Dr. Jasmine Wade, PhD
Community Futures School Administrator

Dr. Jasmine Wade, she/her, was born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor's in Sociology from Princeton University, a Master's in English and Creative Writing from Mills College, and a Doctorate in Cultural Studies from UC Davis. She is an Administrator for the Community Futures School at MOCHA and an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies/Pan-African Studies at Sacramento State University. She spends her days reading and teaching about Afrofuturism and other futurisms. She loves to read and write about time travel, hauntings, Black fairy tales, apocalypse, and more in the pursuit of a more just world. Dr. Jas honors her inner child by spending time close to water.

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Tammy Artis
Museum Programs Supervisor

Bio coming soon

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Nia Moten
Archival & Curator Assistant

Nia Moten, she/her, born and raised in Oakland, California and lifelong MOCHA kid. Nia is currently finishing her B.S. in Psychology from Howard University, set to graduate December 2023. Her next aim in education is to obtain her M.L.I.S. with an emphasis on archival processes and digital curation. Currently, she works as MOCHA's Archival and Curator Assistant working to preserve MOCHA's history and legacy. Nia honors her inner child by sleeping, doing all the things little Nia was not allowed to do, and taking daily hot girl walks.

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Sienna Fatuesi
Program Assistant

Sienna Fatuesi, she/her, is from Seattle, Washington. She recently graduated from Howard University with her B.S. in Health Science, minoring in Chemistry. Sienna joined the Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in the Spring of 2022. Sienna plans to obtain her Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Sciences. Sienna started at MOCHA as an Administrative Assistant and has now become a Program Assistant, where she does administrative work as well as working as an integral part of the communications team. Sienna honors her inner child by coloring, journaling, and being in nature.

Museum Program Assistants
  • Angelica Pereira
  • Irene Harris
  • Megan Chu
  • Keyaisha Garth
  • Samantha Cuevas
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