Staff & Board
A Little Bit of Background:
Ilan is an artist, educator, and curator. His goals are to promote and support artists, raise awareness about the arts, and help build creative communities. He loves to bring people together, provide resources, and share information that creatives and others are eager to learn and explore. Before moving to Denver in 2020, Ilan received an MFA in Printmedia from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), co-founded a gallery in Chicago for emerging artists, taught in the Fiber and Material Studies Department at SAIC, and worked as an International Admissions Counselor. He is an interdisciplinary artist, and extensive world traveler, and has used his experiences abroad to help shape his studio practice. Formalism, the ephemerality of light, place, and the wonder of looking are recurring themes in his work.
Favorite Mediums: Screen Printing, Fiber Arts
Two Truths and a Lie:
Is deathly afraid of bananas.
Has been to 6 out of the 7 continents.
Can speak 3 languages.
A Little Bit of Background:
Alejandra began working with youth early in her career during a year long service with AmeriCorps. Upon completion, she returned to school to become a math and SpEd teacher and taught in various Title 1 schools across the Denver Metro Area. Her love for the arts took her back to school to study Fine Arts - this is how she stumbled upon PlatteForum, a place where her passions intersected: art, community and education.
Favorite Mediums:
A little bit of everything! Painting, sound and photography are her main mediums, but her curiosity expands her practice into diving into other materials.
Two Truths and a Lie:
Is fully deaf from her right ear
Has written the first five chapters of a book
Fully converted a van to adventure across the US, but instead went back to school
A Little Bit of Background:
Kendall has a decade of non-profit experience, beginning her career while a student at Colorado College, then working for Concrete Couch under the mentorship of Steve Wood, before landing in Denver. She has organized, volunteered, and facilitated with a handful of organizations working in the realms of art, environment, housing justice, and at countless schools - teaching arts education programming to all ages.
Kendall started at PlatteForum in 2019 as the ArtLab Facilitator, then the Creative Programming Manager, up until August 2023. Now, they have the privilege of leveraging critical resources to support our programs.
Favorite Mediums:
Ceramic mosaic, DIY sculptures, collage
Two Truths and a Lie:
Helped make a giant, mosaic tile pumpkin
Played Division 1 college soccer at one point
Has a world class art studio
she/her
Ensures finance, HR and operations run smoothly so that other Platteforum staff can focus on supporting youth and the community directly.
jolson[@]platteforum.org
Jen Olson
Business Manager
A Little Bit of Background:
Jen has been in arts education for nearly 25 years, in both K-12 and nonprofit settings. She spent the early part of her career in museum education, then worked for Pasadena Unified School District in California, overseeing an equitable expansion of arts programming district-wide. Most recently, she was Executive Director of Think 360 Arts for Learning, growing the organization through partnerships and resource development. Olson stepped down from that role to focus on supporting other Executive-level arts administrators, through her consulting business Olson Creative, and in her current role at Platteforum. In regards to education, she has a BS in Community Education from Boston University, and an MA in Arts Education from California State University, Northridge.
Favorite Mediums:
Collage! She loves to thrift old books and fabrics.
Two Truths and a Lie:
She was once a professional clown
Currently has 10 pets
Has eaten frog legs
she/they
Plays a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless flow of operations by handling administrative tasks. Assisting the Executive Director, they also collaborate on specific tasks with other key staff members
jpeterson[@]platteforum.org
Jade Peterson
Administrative Coordinator
A Little Bit of Background:
Jade is a queer, disabled artist who prefers to view the world behind a lens. She has had work featured at The Kennedy Center, ItalianVogue, and Google. She believes that a photograph can preserve a moment by creating a bridge between fantasy and reality.
Favorite Medium:
Photography
Two Truths and a Lie:
They are right-handed.
Has had work honored at the Kennedy Center.
They are left-handed
A Little Bit of Background:
Lizeth Hernandez graduated from Community College of Denver in 2018 with an associate of Studio Art. She continued her education at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and in 2021, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Photography and Jewelry Making + Metalsmithing. Over the years, Hernandez has created various artworks that focus on her personal experiences with culture, physical health, and feminism. Through her art, she aims to educate and inform people from all backgrounds, encouraging open dialogue and conversation: “Art is such a powerful medium for expression and I am grateful for the platform to share my voice and perspectives with the world.”
Favorite Mediums:
Textiles and metals
Two Truths and a Lie:
She qualified for swimming at the Olympics but had to pull out due to an injury
As a child, I took a nap underneath a circular clothing rack at Walmart and my mom thought I got kidnapped which ended in a lockdown
I've had spinal reconstruction surgery
A Little Bit of Background:
Ericka Jackson is a proud graduated ArtLab intern and is currently enrolled at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for Illustration with a concept art emphasis.
Favorite Mediums:
Her current favorite medium to work in is graphite, however switching over to digital is a big goal of hers.
Two Truths and a Lie:
She’s been on a week long camping trip with horses
Has a collection of over 60 various art books
Has hiked Pikes Peak
she/her
Assists in the progress production of Resident Artists' and overall development of exhibitions; frequently aids staff in community engagement, additional projects, social media, and management of PlatteForum’s Annex Gallery space.
zsever[@]platteforum.org
Zaida Sever
Studio Assistant
A Little Bit of Background:
A graduate from PlatteForum’s ArtLab Internship Program herself, Zaida Sever has established her presence in Denver’s art scene as early as high school. Since completing her Associates in Applied Sciences in August of 2022, she’s stepped away from the college environment; is fully invested in pursuing a freelance career and alternative educational programs, among them the MCA’s Creator’s Studio Internship, Generation Teach, and now the Youth Roots GIV Fellowship. Sever’s first solo exhibition was in October 2022; she’s eager to expand her body of work, build within the creative community, and seeks to curate and collaborate on multiple projects in the upcoming years.
Favorite Mediums:
Zaida chiefly works in illustration, combining impressionist and comic book elements via digital, traditional, and public art mediums.
Two Truths and a Lie:
She is the oldest of three kids
Was born in South Dakota
Has fallen into a water well
A Little Bit of Background:
Embarking on his artistic journey through PlatteForum as an ArtLab intern in 2020, David has strived to pursue avenues of creative expression ever since. He participated locally in the arts through additional internships, showcases, and displays while also serving on our Board of Directors as a Youth Voice. Meanwhile, David created two murals at DSST: CVHS before graduating in 2023. Now, David attends the University of Denver. His mission is to delve into the art world and harness his potential for artistic expression as he establishes his art practice.
Favorite Mediums:
David adores all mediums including fiber arts, animation, digital art, and traditional ones such as graphite pencils and acrylic paints.
Two Truths and a Lie:
He once owned 10 hamsters
Aspires to be a comedian
Has an absurdly long music playlist
she/her
Assists in facilitation of the Art Lab programming by supporting the students and the artists in residence with their needs in collaboration with other Art Lab Facilitators and the Programming Manager.
shailu[@]platteforum.org
Sofia Hailu
ArtLab Co-Facilitator
A Little Bit of Background:
Besides working at Platte Forum, Sofia Hailu also works at Azari Rug Gallery as the Art Manager and tutors art and ukulele. She graduated from the University of Denver with a BFA in studio art and a minor in entrepreneurship. During which she had the pleasure of studying and working abroad in London at Goldsmiths, University of London. Since graduation, Hailu has been working with younger students, by supplementing their regular education with art focused practice in a diverse set of mediums. She enjoys working with youth, and the community and learning more about art and history throughout all of her professions.
Favorite Mediums:
Her favorite mediums to work in are sound, animation, and ink.
Two Truths and a Lie:
Has dual citizenship
Her dream instrument is the accordion
She doesn’t share the same last name with either of her parents
A Little Bit of Background:
Axel has been with PlatteForum since their time as an ArtLab intern. After graduating the program, they served as the Administrative Assistant, mostly working under the Executive Director. They have recently transitioned into the Art Handler role and when they're not at PlatteForum, you can find them painting houses around Denver.
Favorite Mediums:
Paint! All kinds!
Two Truths and a Lie:
Axel has broken 9 of their 10 toes.
Axel's favorite rollercoaster is the Top Thrill Dragster.
Axel grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Board of Directors
Will Chan: Chair
Director of Strategy and External Affairs, City and Country of Denver
Len Keating: Vice Chair
Senior Regional Director - West, William Blair
Alex Holderness: Treasurer
Account Executive, Alight Solutions
Angela Gunn: Secretary
OZ Architecture, Associate Principal
Leilani Abeyta, Artist Voice Representative
Professional Artist, former PlatteForum ArtLab Intern
Holden Kudla, Artist Voice Representative
Independent Creative / Photographer
Andi Savage
Attorney, Sherman & Howard
Joanne Katz, Community Voice Representative
Retired / Business Owner
Beth Moyski
Senior Vice President, Economic Development & Downtown Environment, Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.
Reina Kushihashi, Youth Voice Representative*
ArtLab Intern, PlatteForum
Diego Ponce, Youth Voice Representative*
ArtLab Intern, PlatteForum
*denotes non-voting members