Derek Holland works with the Creative Youth Development team to support planning and implementation of the Bloomberg Arts Internship, including recruitment, application review, interviews, curriculum development and placements. Derek helps manage the Bloomberg Arts Internship college mentors and coordinate activities on professional development days as Creative Youth Development Manager. Before joining the Cultural Alliance team, Derek was a Project Manager and Artist. Derek has a Master of Fine Arts degree from University of Illinois at Chicago and Master of Public Health degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Derek's pronouns are he/they and his hobbies include staying physically active, exploring new places and visiting art exhibits.

Stephanie works as the Director of Grantmaking ensuring that the various grant opportunities with the Cultural Alliance operate smoothly. Stephanie brings over a decade of experience in philanthropy and the public sector, having served as a Program Officer, a Senior Learning & Evaluation Officer, and more recently as a consultant, where she worked with foundations, nonprofits and consulting firms to help them learn from their experiences, make strategic and informed decisions, and implement changes as a result. Stephanie has a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she refinishes vintage furniture and is restoring an old house in northwest Philadelphia.

Chad Beegle studied music education at the University of the Arts and educational administration at Drexel University and is now the Director of Creative Youth Development and Partner Engagement. Before joining the Cultural Alliance team, Chad was a music teacher/ administrator in numerous schools in the Philadelphia region and internationally. In addition to his role, Chad enjoys traveling, reading, writing, and spending time with family.

Patricia Wilson Aden is President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, which leads, strengthens and amplifies the voices of 400+ member organizations that make up the region’s cultural community. Aden is an unwavering advocate for the arts and culture sector with more than 40 years of experience leading non-profit and cultural institutions, most recently as President of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee and as President & CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

During her tenure at AAMP, Aden preserved a strong financial future for the museum by establishing strategic partnerships, delivering nationally acclaimed programming, and creating deeper donor engagement. At the Blues Foundation, she led the adoption of the Foundation's Statement Against Racism and its accompanying Action Plan, furthered the Blues Foundation's Blues in the Schools program, and helped develop the museum’s Blues Guide, while shepherding the organization through the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Aden has also served in executive roles for the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.

Aden currently serves on the board of PA Humanities and is Vice Chair of the Friends of Cooch’s Bridge in Newark, Delaware. She was selected to serve as a member of the National Museum of African American Music’s Music Industry Relations Council. She has also served on the Smithsonian Affiliate Advisory Council and is a member of the Links, Inc. (Philadelphia Chapter). She has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and other national and state level granting agencies.

Aden holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Spelman College and a master’s in historic preservation from Cornell University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Davis & Elkins College.

Photo credit: Sabina Louise Pierce.