YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
Salute to Local Artists
About YWCA SEW
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin ( YWCA SEW) is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We envision a thriving, inclusive, and just Southeast Wisconsin defined by racial and gender equity as the foundation for healthy communities.
YWCA SEW is part of a national network. We stand up for social and racial justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We have been serving women and families for 125+ years, every day, challenge our community to commit itself to peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all of our neighbors.
Today, YWCA SEW’s mission comes to life through efficient, effective programs and services that touch the lives of thousands, as well as through community building and advocacy work necessary to building a more racially just and economically vibrant tomorrow. This combination of programming and advocacy has three pillars: health & safety, racial justice and economic empowerment. We use economic social determinants of health as our lens to build better lives for women and their families.
The 17th annual An Evening to Promote Racial Justice highlights YWCA Southeast Wisconsin’s leadership in racial justice and equity efforts. Along with keynote speaker Dr. Sarah Lewis and collaboration with local artists, this year’s event reflects on the power of art to shape the racial and gender justice story, change future outcomes, and create a more just world.
Connect with our featured artists below.
Meet the 8 Featured Artists of the 17th annual an Evening to Promote Racial Justice
B~Free
Featured Artist
There are many words that can be used to describe the Music Multihyphenate that is B~Free: Flutist. Vocalist. Pianist. Songwriter. Producer. Music Curator - all of which equate to the makings of a musical swiss army knife. Within her voice is an airiness that feels easy; yet resides within a prominent layer of warmth. Her closest musical comparisons range from the ethereal stylings of Brandy to Aaliyah, with a soulful edge & unique presence inspired by the likes of Jill Scott & Janelle Monae.
Born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Milwaukee, WI, the inheritance of a musical family led her to discover her love for the art form by the age of 2. She began singing and playing piano in her early years and has been writing and composing music since the age of 7. Majoring in music at the Milwaukee High School of The Arts, Lincoln University of PA & VanderCook College of Music, she has been trained in a multitude of genres including jazz and classical flute, voice, and piano. From this, she has been able to hone her craft and develop a multifaceted sound.
Her work isn’t limited to singing, as she has served her community as a full creative, music educator & artistic program director for nearly a decade. During the pandemic, her Instagram space became the premier platform to hear her musical interpretations of contemporary artists known as “Freemixes,” as well as other creative content. Under David Ravel, she also helped with curation and production for Alverno Presents; a music experience that explored Milwaukee artists’ interpretations of the greats including Prince and Marvin Gaye. With this, B~Free then curated her own segment MJ Uncovered; a 2-hour journey through Michael Jackson’s hits. Her full curation, production, arrangements and performances in that series solidified the eminence that follows women in leadership roles.
In the span of her career, B~Free has also shared stages with artists such as Slum Village, Dwele, BJ The Chicago Kid, Talib Kweli, and served as direct opening support for Janelle Monae. When she’s not performing solo, she’s performing & releasing originals with her husband & musical duo partner, Quinten Farr.
Her journey hasn’t come without struggle. In 2013, following the release of her debut project a year prior, a bout of pneumonia and a throat infection left her unable to speak and sing for three months. Vocal cord surgery followed, leaving the musician fearing she would never sing again. After a traumatic period when she couldn’t sing a single note, she became more determined than ever to share her musical gifts. The year-long struggle transformed B~Free as both an artist and an individual.
Her return project following her surgery was (sophomore album) “Ode 2 A Luv Affair LP'' in 2016. The O2LA was met with much acclaim; including being hailed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as the “Number One Album of 2016” and by The Shepherd Express as an "immaculately constructed R&B record."
Her latest in recent endeavors include preparation for her third solo album, & the release spring 2021 self-produced House single, “Hate 2 Luv” feat. Durand Bernarr. After years of perfecting her craft, she’s become the summation of a musical technician and the next R&B Chanteuse.
Kelsey Marie Harris
Featured Artist
Kelsey Marie Harris is a gardener, artist, poet and recovering pessimist, in no particular order. she has two chapbooks, “the jolly queef” and “bury your horses” as well as a full-length poetry book, “spit in my mouth”.
Harris’s work is fueled by anxiety, self-loathing and chronic over-thinking. she also has been a city of Racine writer in residence.
Harris’s visual art explores the realms of abstract print making and line art combined with surreal images connected to Harris’s experiences and artistic journey of exploration.
Adwoa Asentu
Featured Artist
Artistic expression is a major part of my life. To me, art and poetry is everything; it’s all around us all of the time. I was raised by my mother, who always encouraged me to develop my creative abilities; as well as my grandmother, who was a poet and a play-write. I grew up seeing my grandma come home from her factory job, climb in her bed with a yellow writing pad and write all night. It took her about one week to write some of her plays, which she cast and produced for a number of years at the Racine Theater Guild in Racine, WI. Being raised by two great women, one who wasn’t able to graduate from high school due to racism and Jim crow laws but went on to produce and publish her own literary works, has been a strong motivational factor in my upbringing. I strive to honor my family and their contributions to my growth by always pushing myself to go beyond what’s considered “possible” and “realistic”. I often use lots of recycled materials in my visual artwork. Taking a little and making it a lot has been the lived reality for myself, my family and my people for generations. Being innovative and resourceful was never an option for us, but rather something that we had to do to survive. I’m grateful for this because it has taught me that there is so much beauty and abundance around us. It’s also shown me that you don’t need expensive materials to create something of great value. What we create, whether it be a meal for our family or a painting for a patron, will be of high quality if we invest time, energy and love into it.
Antoinette Jones
Featured Artist
My name is Antoinette Jones I am a local POC artist, born and raised in the city of Milwaukee. I started my art journey 3 years ago to help cope with anxiety and stress. I specialize in portraits and animal portraits, mostly working on memorial pieces. Over the last few years I have been able to use my talent to bring joy and light to the city of Milwaukee.
Kierston E. Ghaznavi
Featured Artist
Kierston Ghaznavi was born in West Helena, Arkansas and raised in Milwaukee WI. She received her BFA in Graphic Design at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2012. Traditional drawing is her first love.
Kierston works mainly with pen, ink and markers, recently creating multimedia and digital illustrations. Kierston's subject matter focuses on black pop culture, afro centric natural hair, black women exploring self love, identity, mental health.
Kierston has held small doll making workshops, through Pearls for Teen Girls, Walker Center for the arts, Arts for All and for First Friday’s at the Racine Art Museum
My mission is to provide a unique art experience by creating handmade paper dolls and illustrations; Providing a new way to experience and purchase original artwork.
LIV
Featured Artist
LIV is a bisexual Black woman raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her art she explores themes of gender presentation, vulnerability, and duality within Blackness. One of LIV’s goals for 2022 is taking up as much space as possible in galleries. She wants to continue exploring new creative avenues and impacting her community with her art.
Raices Revolucionarias (RARAS)
Featured Artist
Raices Revolucionarias is an art based colectiva de mujerxs Latinx that through collective power preserves our culture, disrupts cultural displacement, and builds intentional partnerships to dismantle racial inequities to unify, ignite, and empower nuestros barrios.
Jeanette Arellano
Jeanette Arellano is an Interdisciplinary Latinx visual artist based in Milwaukee, WI. Jeanette graduated with a bachelors in Fine Arts at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. She dedicates her efforts with Milwaukee's Latino community by advocating and creating works on issues in cultural social change and immigration. Through her artwork Jeanette has continued to collaborate with artist activist groups such as Voces De Los Artistas, Artbuild Workers and Raices Revolucionarias. Jeanette is a Milwaukee Public School art educator at Hayes Bilingual, serving 700 Bilingual youth, dedicated to transforming young leaders through their creative expressions. Her experience has led her work in organizing creative change to be recognized at the national level through her work with the National Educators Association. Jeanette received the Milwaukee 2019 Catalyst Award from National Americorp program, Public Allies.
Marcela “Xela” Garcia
About our guests: Marcela “Xela” Garcia is an artist, innovator and cultural warrior, born in Guadalajara and raised in Milwaukee. She brings broad experience in arts and culture administration, education, philanthropy and organizational sustainability. Xela earned her BA in English Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing & Chicanx/Latinx Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and also holds a certification in Nonprofit Leadership. She was awarded Board Sources’ National Emerging Non-Profit Leader Award in 2012, was recognized as Wisconsin’s Most Powerful Latinos in 2018, and was selected to the 2020 class of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. She currently serves as a mayoral appointee to the City of Milwaukee Arts Board and as an Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fellow with Americans for the Arts. As an advocate of racial and gender equity she has served on local and national arts, education, and foundation boards–and currently represents District 6 on the Milwaukee School Board Directors for Milwaukee Public Schools.
Andrea Lira
Andrea (Andy) Lira Landa is a graphic designer, photographer and educator. Her work focused on black, Indigenous women of color, community, environmental appreciation and immigrant identity. She currently serves as the Arts Program Coordinator for Casa Romero Renewal Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated towards helping migrant families and youth. Here she leads and coordinates the Art and Activism Retreat bringing in local Artist of color to collaborate with more than 200 youth in the Milwaukee Area.
Ceci Tejeda
Ceci Tejeda was born and raised in Mexico City. Her parents are from Michoacán, Mexico, that’s why has Purepecha blood in her veins. Ever since she was a young girl she admired her culture. Now that she lives in Wisconsin for more than 10 years, she still embraces her roots and shares them with others. When first came to Wisconsin, the first years were difficult to adapt, but she never left her love for creativity. She continued creating her paper mache alebrijes and skulls with joy and love. By doing this, she still feels at home, it made her feel closer to her people, culture, and herself. Being part of events for local artists made her realize that no matter where she is she embraces and carries her roots everywhere she goes. Ceci has displayed her work in “Milwaukee Films Local Artist Activists”, Walker's Point Center For the Arts #MKEMOVEMENTART, and University of Wisconsin Latinx Activism and Art Gallery. She has collaborated with “Voces de los Artistas”, and in events where she shares her work with the community. Ceci has been part of The Day of the Dead event in the Milwaukee Art Museum, she gave alebrije workshops at WPCA, and she has participated in local markets/festivals offering her art and supporting other local artists.