Team 24: Allegra Padilla

to influence and inspire the hearts and minds of future generations will help lay a foundation for a better world.

Allegra Padilla

Arts Administrator

How did you get your job at 24th ST?

Back in 2008 I was taking an Arts and Cultural Management course through Claremont Graduate University. 24^th Street Theatre was brought in by Laura Zucker who was the instructor to talk about the intersection of art and business. Debbie came and did a brief workshop with us dealing with Arts Education and I was inspired to hear about the work that was being done abroad in El Salvador. Fast forward to 2010, I was at a City Hall hearing to support the Department of Cultural Affairs in the face of budget cuts. I was in need of a job and had seen the listing for Arts Administrator. I saw a fellow classmate from the CGU Class who introduced me to Jay and now I have been here for 2 ½ years.

Can you describe your job in one sentence?

I am here to support the work of 24^th Street Theatre as a community connector, cat-herder, and anything else that is needed to facilitate creativity, inspiration and access to quality theatre!

What's your favorite part of your job?

Opening the big green carriage doors every day that I am here. It is still so surreal to me that I work in a theatre.

What's your favorite memory from working at 24th ST?

One of my favorite memories…since there are so many to choose from would have to be last year’s Dia de los Muertos series of events. It was the first year that I coordinated the Community Arts Workshops and it was such an amazing experience because I had some artists from the community, the Craft and Folk Art Museum, and Self-Help Graphics help us do the creative planning. There were about 10 youth volunteers between the ages of (14-18) that practically ran the whole workshop on their own. We had over 70 people attend each session and people from all walks of life were so happy to express their creativity through traditional art making and crafts. The Noche de Ofrenda (Night of Offerings) where people came to help honor their loved ones and build a community altar that was up for all to see, we had the opportunity to collaborate with Ofelia Esparza who is a 4^th Generation altartista and a Los Angeles cultural treasure.

What part of this new season are you most looking forward to experiencing?

I am really excited about the TYA focus for this year’s upcoming season because to influence and inspire the hearts and minds of future generations will help lay a foundation for a better world.