Adam DesJardins joined the CultureSource team in December 2018 with years of experience in, and passion for, arts and cultural programming. Hailing from Ann Arbor and currently rooted in Detroit, Adam has worked for numerous arts organizations including CMAP, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, and VSA/Accessibility at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Most recently, Adam developed programs and produced performances as a part of the Education & Community Engagement department at UMS. Adam has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Michigan.

Michelle de la Fuente has worked for CultureSource since 2009. She maintains the organization’s comprehensive database and provides website support to the CultureSource staff and its member organizations. Her focus is on customer service and continuous process improvement. Prior to CultureSource, Michelle spent 10 years working for Chrysler in various Sales & Marketing/Finance positions. She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Michigan State University.

Kim Howard joined CultureSource in February 2017, and brings with her more than 20 years of project and event management, as well as fund development. Kim has extensive nonprofit experience, most recently at Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, in addition to the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Michigan Chapter, and the Michigan Colleges Foundation. She has built and strengthened relationships both internally and in the community, created successful programs and fundraising opportunities, coordinated and managed a variety of projects and events, and raised millions of dollars in support of the various communities in which she served. Kim holds a B.A. in Communication Arts from Oakland University.

PennyMaria Jackson is a dedicated arts professional, enthusiast and advocate with more than 10 years of experience on the New York City arts scene.

Most recently, she served as the Director of Marketing at the world-famous Apollo Theater where she worked diligently to move the iconic Apollo institution forward. PennyMaria was instrumental in launching the theater’s Amateur Night at the Apollo live stream series and elevating audience engagement experiences. She worked closely with sponsors including HBO, Coca-Cola, and Spotify, in addition to fostering cultural partnerships with both local, national, and international arts organizations.

Previously, PennyMaria developed millennial audiences at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as part of a Wallace Foundation $1.4 million dollar grant and led a significant community engagement initiative at Harlem Stage. She offers a robust range of experience in marketing and communications, web and graphic design, community engagement, foundation relations, corporate partnership management, and more. PennyMaria was born and raised in Miami, Florida where her artistic world flourished at the African American Cultural Arts Center, and later earned an M.A. degree in Arts Journalism from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications.

Utilizing the power of the arts as a driving force, PennyMaria is dedicated to bridging the gap between cultures for decades to come.

Ida joined the CultureSource team in September 2021 as a project coordinator. Their focus is on special projects, fiscal sponsorship, and joint programming between CultureSource and EmcArts. Ida’s previous experience includes stage managing for South By SouthWest, children’s museum programming, and arts education. Ida is a lover of all arts–especially dance, music, and television. They are currently learning how to DJ and create motion graphics in hopes to perform one day!

Sara Nishikawa was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. After completing her BA in Psychology at Loyola Marymount University and MA in Visual Arts at California State University Northridge, Sara moved to Michigan to pursue an MFA in Ceramics at Cranbrook Academy of Arts. She completed her MFA in 2017 and currently lives and works in Detroit. Sara previously worked as the co-director of Tessellate Gallery and Residency, Gallery Manager and Registrar of Reyes Finn, and exhibitions coordinator with BULK Space. At CultureSource, Sara focuses on developing programmatic initiatives and managing the production of CultureSource’s networking, learning, and leadership convenings.

Omari Rush engages the arts as a passion and profession, and in each mode enjoys discovery and deepening impacts. As executive director of CultureSource in Detroit, he advances efforts to have creative expression thrive in communities. His complementary civic service ranges from recently completing an appointment to the State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (serving three governors, two as council chair) to currently being board chair of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and a board member of Arts Midwest in Minneapolis and the Lewis Prize for Music.

Omari earned degrees in music from the University of Michigan and Florida State University, and extended his love for learning by completing fellowships with the Salzburg Global Forum and Association of Performing Arts Professionals, by managing the K-12 education program of the University Musical Society (UMS), and by serving on research advisory committees for the National Endowment for the Arts and Indiana University O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

A lapsed clarinetist, Omari now uses his voice to co-host a monthly arts-focused radio show on NPR affiliate WEMU-FM, and he plays on a Rivendell Clem-L bicycle, which he rides daily on streets and trails.