Strathmore & Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Announce 4th Year of Arts and Social Justice Fellowship
Twelve area high school students selected for the 2025 cohort
[North Bethesda, February 6, 2025] – Strathmore, in partnership with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, proudly announces the fourth class of its Arts and Social Justice Fellowship (ASJF), a program empowering high school students to explore the intersection of art and activism.
Launched in 2021 alongside the co-presentation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, ASJF was created to inspire the next generation of artist-activists to use their artistic passions to address pressing social issues. Over six months, fellows attend performances, participate in workshops, and collaborate with professional artist mentors. Attending in-person activities and biweekly Zoom sessions, they engage with topics such as climate justice, identity, race, gender, and freedom while exploring the transformative power of art.
“As the poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs told us, supporting young people’s leadership is ‘sacred and revolutionary work,’” says Lauren Campbell, Strathmore’s Vice President of Education. “Each year, I feel increasingly honored to work alongside our passionate and talented fellows. They are facing an uncertain future with courage and clarity, and we feel privileged to be able to support and learn from them during the upcoming six months.”
Woolly’s Associate Artistic Director and Director of Connectivity Kristen Jackson says, “This is a program and a partnership that we hope goes well into the future and the beginning of lasting relationships among these twelve young people and our two institutions. We are thrilled to be part of developing this network of artist-activists.”
ASJF fosters leadership, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, helping participants develop the confidence and skills to use art as a tool for empathy, communication, and community engagement. Fellows receive a $750 stipend to develop final projects addressing issues they care about, growing their capacity to drive projects from start to finish. The program culminates in a public showcase where fellows present their work—spanning visual art, theater, music, and multimedia installations—and share their visions for the future.
2025 ARTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COHORT
- Anniyah Rizvi (she/her), Vienna, VA, Grade 12
- Austin McNair (he/him), Severn, MD, Grade 11
- Elsa Furr (she/her), Washington, DC, Grade 10
- Evelyn Skinner (she/her), Bethesda, MD, Grade 9
- Jessica Yao (she/her), North Potomac, MD, Grade 11
- Junee Kim (she/her), Clarksburg, MD, Grade 11
- Niamh O'Donovan (they/them), Washington, DC, Grade 12
- Sadiq Muhammad (he/him), Gaithersburg, MD, Grade 10
- Soa Andriamananjara (she/her), Washington, DC, Grade 12
- Sol Berrellez (they/she), Gaithersburg, MD, Grade 11
- William Liao (he/him), Potomac, MD, Grade 10
- Yaa Baucum (she/they), Washington, DC, Grade 11
Click here for more information about ASJF and this year’s cohort of local high school students.
This program is made possible with generous support from Dr. Deborah M. Smith & the Dr. Allen A.B. Herman Fund, Victoria J. Perkins, and Hope Brown Saxton.
ABOUT STRATHMORE
Since 1983, Strathmore has enriched lives through transformative artistic experiences and meaningful community connections. Known for spotlighting world-class talent and nurturing emerging artists, this leading cultural institution is a cornerstone of the arts scene in the Washington, DC region and beyond.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in North Bethesda, Maryland, Strathmore is committed to amplifying diverse voices and fostering creativity across all demographics. Its expansive campus, featuring the Music Center and the Mansion, hosts hundreds of accessible, multidimensional programs annually, inviting audiences to explore the arts from every angle.
Through captivating performances, thought-provoking discussions, and innovative educational initiatives, Strathmore inspires, engages, and connects individuals through the power of the arts. Experience the magic of Strathmore—where the arts are everywhere.
ABOUT WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY
The Tony Award-winning Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company creates badass theatre that highlights the stunning, challenging, and tremendous complexity of our world. For over 40 years, Woolly has maintained a high standard of artistic rigor while simultaneously daring to take risks, innovate, and push beyond perceived boundaries. One of the few remaining theatres in the country to maintain a company of artists, Woolly serves an essential research and development role within the American theatre. Plays premiered here have gone on to productions at hundreds of theatres all over the world and have had lasting impacts on the field. Currently co-led by Artistic Director Maria Manuela Goyanes and Managing Director Kimberly E. Douglas, Woolly is located in Washington, DC, equidistant from the Capitol and the White House. This unique location influences Woolly’s investment in actively working towards an equitable, participatory, and creative democracy.
Woolly Mammoth stands upon occupied, unceded territory: the ancestral homeland of the Nacotchtank whose descendants belong to the Piscataway peoples. Furthermore, the foundation of this city, and most of the original buildings in Washington, DC, were funded by the sale of enslaved people of African descent and built by their hands.
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