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VIBE THEATER EXPERIENCE NAMES TOYA LILLARD AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NEW YORK, January 18, 2012 – viBe Theater Experience (“viBe”) announced today that its Board of Directors has named Toya Lillard as the new Executive Director of viBe, effective January 17, 2012.  Toya will succeed viBe Co-Founder Dana Edell, PhD.

“After ten amazing years of creating and leading viBe, I have decided to continue my girls activist and academic work outside of our organization and make way for viBrant new leadership,” said Dana.  “Hiring Toya is a fantastic choice by the Board and a clear demonstration of viBe’s continued leadership in using the performing arts to empower New York City’s girls.  She has my full and heartfelt support.  We have been working on a smooth transition over the past few weeks, leading to Toya officially taking the sparkling baton this week and continuing to build a new viBracious future for our city’s girls.  I look forward to continuing my passionate support for viBe as a board member.”

Dana co-founded viBe Theater Experience with chandra thomas in 2002 and became the organization’s first Executive Director.  Dana will remain Treasurer of viBe’s Board of Directors and serve as a guest teaching artist and advisor.

“viBe is very fortunate to have found Toya,” said chandra, who serves as viBe’s Director of Programming.  “I am thrilled to have her join us and I look forward to supporting her as she leads viBe into our next chapter.”

Toya has more than 15 years of experience in arts education and has directed plays, developed curriculum, led advocacy efforts and implemented innovative teaching artist training programs both in and out of New York City’s schools.  As a theater teaching artist, she has also worked extensively and passionately with teenage girls in New York City.  Prior to joining viBe, Toya was the Director of In-School Programs at the New York Philharmonic, where she was responsible for directing the School Partnership Program, which serves 15 schools and more than 3,000 New York City public school students.  She also oversaw and designed professional development for teaching artists and classroom teachers and directed the Philharmonic Mentors program.

After graduating from Houston’s prestigious High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Toya earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Vassar College, where she further developed her interest in arts education, particularly in the use of theatre to help youth address issues relevant to their personal and civic development.  She went on to earn her master’s degree in arts education from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, served as a Project Coordinator at NYU’s Tisch AmeriCorps and assisted with the development of NYU’s Office of Art and Public Policy.

“It’s an honor to follow Dana as the Executive Director of viBe,” said Toya. “The opportunity to lead viBe is a dream come true for me.  I look forward to building upon Dana’s tremendous accomplishments.”

“The Board and I are so proud of Dana and deeply appreciative of all she has given and sacrificed to viBe since its inception,” said Trevor Foley, Chair of viBe’s Board of Directors.  “She and chandra realized an acute need in our community and in response built from the ground up this special organization.  We wish Dana the very best in her future professional endeavors and we are excited to have her remain with viBe as an invaluable board member, advisor and artist.”

“Toya is a seasoned professional whose extensive background in arts education, non-profit program management and fundraising – along with her firsthand teaching artist experience – fits perfectly with viBe,” continued Trevor.  “We look forward to Toya’s execution of viBe’s mission to provide performing arts education and empowerment opportunities for our city’s underserved girls.  We are delighted to have Toya build upon Dana’s work and lead viBe going forward.”