To the tune of “The Champ is here” by Judakiss, GANGGANG announced with an Instagram post May 28 that Lesley Gordon is the organization’s first executive director.
GANGGANG was founded in 2020 by Alan and Malina Simone Bacon, who have since led the organization, launching projects such as BUTTER Fine Art Fair, I Made Rock ‘n’ Roll, the NBA All-Star Tip-Off celebration and other initiatives that center the global African diaspora and economic justice in the arts.
Gordon previously served as chief communications officer for Black Onyx Management, a research advisory company, and as chief of public affairs officer for IndyGo.
The announcement received an outpour of support from commenters. It linked to a personal message from Gordon, who describes herself as mother and wife, but also as “someone who believes deeply in people, in neighborhoods, in culture and in the power of storytelling to move communities forward.”
The message also looks to the future, emphasizing the importance of GANGGANG’s longevity: “Something that future generations of creatives can build from.”
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Jennifer Delgadillo is Mirror Indy’s arts and culture editor. You can reach her at jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org.
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