What we care about
ABOUT US
The Cultural Alliance connects with artists, creative entrepreneurs, arts and cultural organizations and we provide support to them. We engage the public, businesses, and government leaders to advance the arts and integrate creativity in communities.
Small Business
Find out how we provide support for creative small businesses to grow and prosper.
Social Justice
Learn why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Social Justice is at the core of everything we do.
Advocacy
Fact: when you partner with local cultural and arts organizations, you impact the entire community.
Regional Marketing
Looking to contribute to a social and vibrant community? Let’s work together to get the word out.
ABOUT US
Meet our team
whose work allows us to advance our vision and to stay relevant.
STAFF
Lisa Scails
Executive Director
Lisa joined the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut in 2007 with a background in civil rights, social service, and as a small business entrepreneur. Scails currently serves as a member of the Private Sector Council for Americans for the Arts; a member of the Western Connecticut Economic Develop District Advisory group; and an active partner with the CT Office of the Arts through the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Tiffany Johnson
Program Coordinator
Artist and Social Justice advocate, Tiffany is passionate about the BIPOC community and all the intersections related to equity and justice. She is our guru behind our Walk in Their Shoes programming and resources. An artists and equity minded spirit helping us to lead on issues of equity and justice.
Raymond Pinot
Arts Coordinator
Raymond is the arts coordinator and liaison between us and the CT Office of the Arts through the Bridge Builders Initiative, which is an effort to build equity in communities across CT. Lots of good things happening from his desk!
VOLUNTEERS
Barbara Cirella
Web Content
Barbara is our news content guru. She’s the one keeping up with all the news to share on our website related to arts and culture. We’re very lucky to have her!
Lisa D'Amico
Curator
A curator with fifteen years experience, Lisa is the curator for “Color Blind” an online art exhibition presented during spring of 2021. Lisa has featured the work of artists from many places across the globe.
Amy Salerno
Curator
Amy is the curator for Nestings and Migration – an Accessible Art project with Aquila’s Nest Vineyards. A graduate of the SVA Graduate Art Education program and fifteen years of teaching experience. We love Amy’s “give back” spirit.
Felicia Paduano
Event Coordinator
Felicia helps out with events. She’s an event coordinating ninja and manages the most involved programs seemlessly and always with a smile. Felicia is a busy lady with her many volunteer projects. Glad to have some of her time!
Danielle Kayal
People and Systems Consultant
Danielle has many talents centered on human resource development. She’s an analyst and expert on the use of the technology to increase efficiency. We’re lucky she likes us!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors are our behind-the-scene Gurus. Expertise, committee work, ambassadors, and fundraising, all while working tirelessly to adopt sound, ethical governance.
Lew Wallace
Chair, Board of Director
Dawn Kaam
Vice Chair, Board of Director
Paul Steinmetz
Secretary, Board of Director
Paula Woodhouse
Treasurer, Board of Director
Paula’s financial expertise expands our resources to help creative entreprenurs and nonprofits. Paula is a Commercial Lender at Savings Bank of Danbury and responsible for managing a commercial loan portfolio including developing and maintaining business lending relationships.
Emily Anne Carney
Board of Director
Emily is a professional writer and adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University. She assists with grants, fundraising and community outreach.
Dennis Daugherty
Board of Director
Dennis is Chairman of the Western CT Chapter of SCORE, a national service organization. He also sits on the Legislative Council of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce.
Andrea Gartner
Board of Director
Hal Kurfehs
Board of Director
Vicki Taylor-Bloch
Board of Director
Vicki is not only an interior design genius, but she also brings over 17 years as a supporter and community activist of local non-profit organizations. Vicki is a strategist and knows how to get things done!
We Thank Our Contributors
Major Supporters
Foundation Sponsor
People’s United Bank
Engraved Products
MAP
RMedia
Art Angels
Neil and Lisi Marcus
Lew and Rosemarie Wallace
Unifier Sponsor
Steve and Lauren Greenberg
Fairfield County Bank
Savings Bank of Danbury
Union Savings Bank
Western Connecticut State University
Allied Sponsor
Dennis Daugherty
Savings Bank of Danbury
Housatonic Valley Waldorf School
Lew Wallace
Seventy 2 Architects
Coldwell Banker Commercial
Healing Sponsor
Norman Urquhart
Hancock Hall
Cynthia Merkle
REI Property Management
CityCenter Danbury
At Home Design
Supporter Sponsor
Dawn Reshen-Doty
Kate Conetta
Thamer Rushaidat
June Baldyga
Barbara Bernstein
