Omari Rush has engaged the arts as both a passion and profession, and in each mode, he continues to enjoy discovery and deepening impacts. As executive director of CultureSource in Detroit and as the governor-appointed chairman of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, he advances efforts to have creative and cultural expression thrive in diverse communities. Complementing that work, Omari is a board member of Arts Midwest in Minneapolis and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in Washington, D.C.
Omari earned degrees in music from Florida State University and the University of Michigan, and extended his love for learning by managing the K-12 education program of the University Musical Society (UMS), by serving on the John F. Kennedy Center's Partners in Education National Advisory Committee, and by serving as the chairman of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.
A lapsed clarinetist, Omari now uses his voice to co-host an arts-focused radio show on WEMU-FM and recite Robert Frost poetry.
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.
With CultureSource since 2011, Jane Linn brings to CultureSource more than 30 years of experience managing staff, budgets, programs, and fiscal goals in both the public and private sectors. She has served arts and cultural organizations, including the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and public broadcasting stations WKAR-AM/FM/TV.
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.
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.
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.