Project team
Daniel Ronan
Director
Daniel Ronan is an arts, culture, and heritage professional based in Chicago. He brings a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, with experience working in museums, tourism, international relations, and community development corporations. Mr. Ronan started the Resilient Heritage blog and firm in 2014 to showcase how arts, culture, and heritage organizations communicate their benefits to society. He left his work for non-profits in March 2019 to campaign for now-Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, as the Manager of Operations, where he managed the politician’s 13 campaign offices.
WhYtnee bush
Editor
Whytnee Bush is a Chicago boomerang after a decade plus in New England. She currently works for cybersecurity firm NowSecure, after fundraising for Donovan for Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. She is an active volunteer with the Urban Theater Company and co-founder of the Vermont Welcome Wagon Project. In her free time, she likes to bike, read, travel, go out to eat, and beat her Gram at card games. She has a B.A. in Archaeology and Anthropology from Boston University.
Stephanie foerster
Story & Production Advisor
Stephanie Foerster is an action-oriented, strategic thinker with over twenty years in the non-profit and communications sectors. Her expertise includes strategic communications, documentary filmmaking, and storytelling for nonprofits. Her company Ensemble Media works to empower change-making nonprofits through strategic storytelling tools. Clients include the Chicago Community Trust, Heartland Alliance and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Stephanie has a Master’s in International Development from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University, and a BA in French and Business from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Kenneth franco
Senior Project Advisor
Kenneth Franco is Founder & Chief Strategist of Kampaign—a Chicago-based consultancy for arts, cultural, and creative organizations—and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC), a nonprofit service organization working to develop leadership, the business of arts, and the art of business in Chicago. Prior to this role Kenneth first served A&BC as Director of Business Volunteers for the Arts.
Tia Smith
Videographer
Tia Smith is a multi-talented visual artist who has produced moving documentaries and photographs of her native Rockford. A former public housing resident, Ms. Smith began developing her skills in support of the Rockford Housing Authority’s efforts to increase public housing resident participation in its long-term development plans, and engage Rockford residents in creating stable and affordable housing communities.