Meet Your Presenters
‘Creative Professionals Exchange: Emergence’ conference proudly showcase a diverse group of visionary leaders and innovators who are at the forefront of the creative industry. Our esteemed presenters are gathered from the vibrant corners of Western New York, each bringing a unique blend of expertise, inspiration, and practical wisdom.
Keynote Speaker
Aitina Fareed-Cooke
Aitina Fareed-Cooke is a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the transformative power of community support. Born into challenging circumstances, she rose above labels to become a multifaceted force for positive change. As the City of Buffalo Poet Laureate, Aitina’s journey from a youth supported by community programs to a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and professor underscores her dedication to leadership and empowerment.
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Today, her work spans across various creative domains, including music, photography, videography, and poetry, earning her recognition as a dynamic creator.
Panelist
Paula Bernstein
An esteemed arts volunteer and the Executive Director of the Tri-County Arts Council. Her leadership is characterized by a passion for fostering inclusivity and supporting a diverse range of artists within the community. She is recognized for her strategic vision in enhancing the council’s success and making art accessible across the region. Her role significantly contributes to the cultural enrichment of the rural communities she serves.
Panelist
Chantal Calato
An American artist whose upbringing near the infamously toxic Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York profoundly influenced her artistic journey. For over two decades, she has focused on expressing her personal experiences of growing up surrounded by toxic waste sites through her art.
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Calato’s recent sculptural works are characterized by their bold colors and benefit from her unique talent for garbage picking.
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Panelist
Nicole Chochrek
An interdisciplinary artist who uses visual and performative frameworks to explore contemporary issues and environmental disparities. Her work emphasizes accessibility, deep listening, shared responsibilities, and the creation of new ways of being together. Themes in her art include air quality, land use, waste, and the unique perspectives of a neurodivergent mind. Through her process, she challenges conventional notions of “correctness” and opens up space for possibility.
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Workshop Presenter
Akasya Crosier
A visual artist, business owner, and marketer based in Buffalo, NY. After working as a graphic designer in nonprofit arts, she launched her own retail ecommerce business during the pandemic while continuing to provide marketing services to local organizations. Akasya’s vibrant and whimsical illustrations are now available on clothing and accessories in a dozen stores across NY. When she’s not immersed in her business, she crafts mixed media landscapes using scrap fabric and acrylic paint—her favorite artistic medium.
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Panelist
Kyla Kegler
An artist and curator renowned for her paintings, and musical, choreographic performances that delve into existential humor, power dynamics, and pleasure. Drawing from her experiences with Bread and Puppet Theater and as co-founder of “Zuhause” theater in Berlin, Kegler holds an MA in Solo/Dance/Authorship and an MFA in Studio Art. Her notable projects include “Feel Me,” “The House on Fire Show,” “Mountains,” “The Frontier,” and “Relationships Don’t Finish, They Change.” Kegler also runs Agatha Falls, a creative space for performance, dance, and movement in Niagara Falls, NY.
Workshop Presenter
Celine Krzan
An innovative educator at the University at Buffalo, where she teaches entrepreneurship courses and facilitates the M&T Bank Minority and Emerging Entrepreneur Program. With a dual degree in Theatre Performance and Political Science and an MBA, her diverse background includes roles in PR and content strategy at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, marketing at Launch NY, and change management at M&T Bank. Celine’s dedication to economic and job development in the WNY Region is evident through her commitment to empowering others via the arts.
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Workshop Presenter
Gabriella Mckinley
A passionate actor, singer, and dancer, Gabriella’s artistry is dedicated to elevating marginalized voices and advocating for social justice. She actively works with underserved communities, focusing on restorative justice and aims to create programming that supports previously incarcerated individuals.
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Currently serving as the Program Director for Ujima Company, Inc., Gabriella's professional experience also includes, Buffalo State’s Anne Frank Project and Shakespeare in Delaware Park.
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Panelist
Dana Murray Tyrell
Artist and curator engaged in drawing, painting, craft, and sculpture, my studio practice is fueled by exploring materials, animism, and embracing chance. I'm fascinated by the way objects and fleeting moments hold the essence of collective memories, and I explore the intersections of ecology, inheritance, haunting, and domesticity through the lens of queerness.
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As the Gallery Co-Director at the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, Dana plays a key role in shaping the cultural landscape of Western New York.
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Workshop Presenter
Brandon Williamson
Brandon Williamson is a Creativity consultant, workshop developer and Creative Problem solving Facilitator. Brandon has a great understanding of the complexities of perspective in business. He is trained to conduct creative problem solving facilitations for corporate, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, athletic organizations, student associations and groups, youth groups, after- school programs, educational institutions, and community organizations. Brandon travels from Buffalo, to the Hudson Valley, and the Capitol region of New York State presenting to high school students the importance of education and choosing the path for the future they desire.