Leeway Appoints Hope Steinman-Iacullo Program Assistant

PHILADELPHIA—Denise M. Brown, Executive Director of the Leeway Foundation, announced today the appointment of Hope Steinman-Iacullo as Program Assistant. Hope, who comes to Leeway after working in a group home for queer youth, began officially on November 16, 2009.

"Hope is enthusiastic, motivated and passionate about art and social change,” says Denise. “As Leeway works toward creating change in our community on several fronts—in addition to our support of individual artists—we are delighted to add someone to our team with Hope’s unique combination of knowledge, skills, and experience. She will be a tremendous asset in helping us to achieve our programmatic goals.”

Hope will be responsible for supporting the foundation’s office operations; additionally, she will assist with maintaining program related information, general office and communication systems. In collaboration other staff and board members she will be an advocate for art and change in philanthropic and other networks to support the strategic goals of the foundation. She reports to the Executive Director.

“I am very excited to begin working with Leeway,” says Hope. “The foundation's commitment to supporting and recognizing artists whose work embodies social justice is one that I am deeply passionate about. Art can truly be a vehicle for social change through the telling of stories, encouraging audiences to reach within themselves and think about difficult topics, empowering people to be proactive in their communities, and inspiring others to see the power of their own voice and perspective. I am looking forward to being a part of a team of such inspired and talented individuals who are dedicated to such important work.”

Hope graduated from Wesleyan University in 2009 with a major in African American Studies and a concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Prior to Leeway, she was part of FIERCE’s (Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment) Education for Liberation Project aimed at organizing queer youth of color in New York City. She interned with the New York Foundation, where she organized training sessions for youth interns, and at the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project.

Hope also served as a board member of COLAGE, a national nonprofit agency for youth with LGBTQ parents, and acted as a facilitator for the agency’s annual Family Week from 2004-2008. While attending Wesleyan, Hope lived at Women of Color House, a program house aimed at bringing together the women of color community at Wesleyan and was a part of Spectrum, a queer student of color organization.