Staff

ArtForceIowa is a 501c3 non-profit governed by a board of directors.  The organization is managed by Christine Her, Yvette Zaród Hermann, Emma Parker and Jackson Meister. Professional artists serve as Artist Mentors. These artists lead workshops and develop positive relationships with youth.

Christine Her Executive Director Christine@artforceiowa.org               Christine is dedicated to serving young people and building bridges towards social justice for all. As a singer, songwriter and musician, she encourages young people to find their voices and share personal truths through lyrics and melodies.     

Christine Her
Executive Director
Christine@artforceiowa.org             

Christine is dedicated to serving young people and building bridges towards social justice for all. As a singer, songwriter and musician, she encourages young people to find their voices and share personal truths through lyrics and melodies. 

 

 

Jackson Meister Youth Engagement Specialist Jackson@artforceiowa.org Jackson is our AmeriCorps team member and a visual artist.  He graduated from The Evergreen State College with a major in drawing and is driven to cultivate the maker in all our youth.      

Jackson Meister
Youth Engagement Specialist
Jackson@artforceiowa.org

Jackson is our AmeriCorps team member and a visual artist.  He graduated from The Evergreen State College with a major in drawing and is driven to cultivate the maker in all our youth.

 

 

 

Yvette Zaród Hermann Program Director                          Yvette@artforceiowa.org                   Yvette is a passionate advocate for the rights of young people. As a New York City Teaching Fellow, Yvette earned her Master's of Science in Education from CUNY Lehman College while working in a public high school in the Bronx. She has 13 years of arts-integrated teaching experience. She has taught widely in Des Moines Public Schools, at the YMCA, Des Moines Performing Arts, Grand View University and DMACC Urban Campus.

Yvette Zaród Hermann
Program Director                         
Yvette@artforceiowa.org                 

Yvette is a passionate advocate for the rights of young people. As a New York City Teaching Fellow, Yvette earned her Master's of Science in Education from CUNY Lehman College while working in a public high school in the Bronx. She has 13 years of arts-integrated teaching experience. She has taught widely in Des Moines Public Schools, at the YMCA, Des Moines Performing Arts, Grand View University and DMACC Urban Campus.

Emma Parker DSM Heroes Program Manager Emma@artforceiowa.org                   Emma is a visual artist with a talent for envisioning collaborative projects. She graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA in Studio Art.  

Emma Parker
DSM Heroes Program Manager
Emma@artforceiowa.org                 

Emma is a visual artist with a talent for envisioning collaborative projects. She graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA in Studio Art.

 

Artist-Mentor Team 

Current Artist-Mentors Include:

Visual Arts
Juan Lorido, Deb Smith, Jordan Olson, Johnathan Fusco, Dan Nutt, Kathryn E. Sutton, Cody Sherman, Emma Parker, Jackson Meister, Austin Broach

Music
Christine Her, Micah Smith

Hip-hop Production
Jason Gorsuch

Filmmaking and Photography
Dan Jacquez

Theater and Creative Writing
Yvette Hermann, Sarah Welch, Jami DeVries, Rachel Vogel Quinn, Blake Loomis

Board Members

Carl Vieregger, Professor of Management & International Business, Drake University

Sharon Wegner, Attorney (specialist in Juvenile Courts)

Hoang Tran, Design Architect, RDG Dahlquist Studios

Michael A. Gilmer, Attorney, Davis Brown Law (specialist in Taxation)

Anna Tran, ‎Internal Auditor, Fidelity & Guaranty Life