Gossypion Investments (Gossy) helps communities and businesses thrive together through cultural investments, advising, and consulting. By integrating cultural makers, consumers, and industry, we help clients maximize their competitiveness and achieve greater economic prosperity. Dedicated to addressing our most pressing social challenges, Gossypion Investments works alongside governments, foundations, non-profits, artists, companies and those they serve to shift entrenched systems toward paradigms that function better for everyone.Our advising spans the topics of talent attraction and retention, cultural engagement strategies, diversity and inclusion, marketing, real estate, cultural development strategies, city planning, creative place keeping, and political strategy.

Ash Studios is an award winning artspace in Dallas, TX which focuses on serving communities and artists of color in Dallas, TX. Co-founded by Fred Villanueva and Darryl Ratclif in 2012, Ash Studios hosted over 200 artists and has served over 20,000 people in the last four years.

I help support two priority initiatives in the Meadows School of the Arts: The National Center for Arts Research and The Initiative on Arts + Urbanism.

I help cover the Dallas area art scene for Glasstire.com through commentary and reviews.

Created over $350,000 in revenue for company and clients; awarded Dallas Observer’s Best of Dallas award for Best Artful Do-gooders in 2013, planned and executed over 300 events ranging from concerts to gallery exhibitions to fundraisers to arts festivals.Program manager for DaVerse Lounge which provides spoken word clubs for 170 Middle and High School students weekly at 8 DISD schools. Impacts an additional 750 young people through four showcase performances. Designed current showcase format. Increased program budget from $2,000 to $74,000 (2009-13). Awarded TEDxSMU talk (2013) Awarded National Endowment For The Arts Grant (2013)Event planner for RoundUp For Startups, startup tech company concept job fair, 32 venture backed startups and 128 salaried jobs available, over 800 attendees, front page story Business Section Dallas Morning NewsBranded and managed Backbeat Café and Listening Room (Downtown), 1111 Studio Gallery (Design District), theSPACE @Florence St (Arts District), Ash Studios (Expo Park)Designed and managed social media campaigns for Backbeat Café and Listening Room, UnSilent Night Dallas, 29 Pieces, 1111 Studio Gallery, theSPACE, African American Repertory Theater, DaVerse Lounge, Ash Studios, Dallas Love Project, Trans.lation Vickery MeadowCreated a community of over 2700 active Facebook friends for Green Bandana GroupGrant writer for the Economic Development Corporation of Italy, TX in 2011, developed grant resources for Community Center Development.Moderate and organize State of the Emerging Arts, an annual panel discussion which takes place at UTD-Centraltrak, and gathers the most exciting young artists and leaders in the Dallas arts scene.Curated 9 pop-up galleries for the Arts Apartments in the Dallas Arts District summer 2010.

I serve the small town of Italy, TX in helping strengthen current businesses, encourage entrepreneurs, bring in new business, build public facilities and infrastructure, and anything else that helps bring in jobs.

1111 Studio Gallery is a 4000sq ft gallery and event space that focuses on new media, installation, performance, and event based art. We are located in Dallas, TX in the heart of the Dallas Design District.

Specialized in nonprofit retirement accounts.

I provide overall strategic vision and business support to a for-profit poetry and education company which sub-contracts workshops, performances, and training in creativity to North Texas area school districts and non-profits.We also provide innovative solutions to for-profit companies in the areas of booking, promotions, marketing, and creativity. Our partners include the Dallas Museum of Art, Big Thought, the Dallas Theater Center, the Irving School District, Dallas Arts Institute, Opening Bell Coffee, and many others.

Created case statements, outcome evaluations, and detailed demographic documents.Dialogued weekly with the Executive Director and the Board concerning grant writing projects.Represented Choristers Guild at the Calvin Institute of Worship Grant Colloquium

• Facilitated strategic planning sessions for The Studio and Artist’s Night Out• Wrote purpose and mission statements for Artist’s Night Out.• Created strategic plan to achieve non-profit status by 2008.• Acquired venue for Artist’s Night Out at the Undermain Theatre