1888: The How, The Why

Lilia Gonzáles-Chávez, was appointed Executive Director of the Fresno Arts Council in 2011, and was appointed to the California Arts Council by Governor Gavin Newson in 2020.  She is a performing artist with over twenty years teaching and performing Ballet Folklorico. With a BA from Fresno State University and a Master’s degree from Fresno Pacific University, Lilia has worked in the education, human services and the arts field first as a teacher and advancing through management and leadership positions in public and nonprofit organizations. She is co-founder of Arte Américas, the Latino cultural arts center in Fresno and served as its Director for nearly ten years. Brynn Saito is a poet, educator, and organizer based in Fresno, CA. She is the author of two books of poetry from Red Hen Press, Power Made Us Swoon (2016) and The Palace of Contemplating Departure (2013). She recently published Dear—, a chapbook and online letter archive funded with an Artist's Grant from Densho, an organization dedicated to shari