Maya Washington is best known as an award-winning director, narrative and documentary filmmaker (writer/director/producer), actress, writer, poet, creative director, visualist (photography), and arts educator. However, Washington is also a sought after outreach strategist. Maya is a member of the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA) and has brought films, books, and art experiences to audiences worldwide in places and spaces where engagement counts most– the community. Maya is dedicated to projects that have a sense of “purpose” in the world, selecting social impact stories that illuminate aspects of the human experience that are untold, rarely seen, or might benefit from new approaches to community engagement. With a BA in Dramatic Arts from the University of Southern California, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University, Maya works with filmmakers, poets, authors, speakers, nonprofits, and corporate leaders to develop and present award-winning programming throughout the United States and beyond. Among her favorite projects include the impact tours of her award-winning films and books, and projects for the MLK Tennis Buffs, concerts and events for Rise & Remember (formerly known as George Floyd Global Memorial), Emmett Till Legacy Foundation and others. Maya has served on film festival juries, and juried artist funds including Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, and others. Her work has been featured on the Tamron Hall Show, ESPNW, Essence, Ebony and others. Maya is a former screener for the Bentonville Film Festival, and is a former Board Member of FilmNorth. As a speaker, Maya recently shared work at SXSW, and New Media Ventures Conference. She brings decades of experience with global brands and initiatives, and major funders of the arts to her impact work. Maya believes a great story can be told across platforms and communities. 

Julia Ramadan holds a BA from the University of Southern California in Public Relations with a double minor in Music Industry and Nonprofits, and Philanthropy and Volunteerism. Her career began managing the day-to-day operations for the iconic artist Prince, from coordinating multimillion-dollar tours across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, to negotiating partnerships and strategizing promotional appearances for high-profile events such as the Grammys and Billboard Awards. She also played a key role in the launch of new musical projects under Prince’s guidance. Julia’s contributions to the entertainment industry have earned her a range of accolades, including a prestigious Helpmann Award for Best International Contemporary Concert, recognition in Billboard Magazine and V Magazine, and mentions in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and NY Daily News. Julia launched her own boutique creative agency, offering a wide range of services including project management, social media strategy, and social impact consulting for diverse clients such as jewelry brands, artists, and event companies. Her agency work extends to high-profile projects, such as providing PR, graphic design, and speechwriting for the Oscar-winning production company K Period Media during their Manchester by the Sea campaign. As the Creative Director for the West Coast Committee of the Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC), she led fundraising and PR strategies, designs marketing materials, and writes compelling content focused on cancer research. Her entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in her co-founding of Love Your Flo, a candle company empowering menstruators while supporting refugee female artisans and providing menstrual supplies to underserved communities. As the Executive Associate to the CEO at Gaumont International Television, Julia managed company culture, oversaw office relocation and event production, and helped execute high-profile company events. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Consultant at Strings Entertainment, offering advice to developing artists and advising on social media, career strategies, and live music production. Julia’s passion and expertise serve clients in the health and wellness, education, film & tv, and art & design fields. 

Meghan Maloney-Vinz is a powerhouse communities connector in the arts, sports, literature, K-12, and higher education and heads our curriculum team. Meghan was an educator in the Saint Paul Public Schools for eight years before leaving to pursue her MFA in creative writing at Hamline University. Meghan has served as managing and executive editor of Water~Stone Review for eighteen years and has worked as adjunct faculty in the education and creative writing programs, she is also the Women's Soccer Faculty Representative. She also works as program coordinator for the BFA (creative writing) program at Hamline. Aside from her work with the Creative Writing Programs, Meghan is the managing editor of the Under Review, an online literary journal with a sports slant and is a founding member of a small book arts press, broadcraft press. With a knack for community programming and creative events, Meghan is skilled at event and publication production across genres and platforms.