Alicia Thompson
Director of Arts Education and Strategic Planning
Alicia Thompson is a Brooklyn-born actress, educator, writer, cultural worker, and arts education leader whose work sits at the intersection of theater, storytelling, social-emotional learning, youth development, and community engagement. With more than two decades of arts education experience, Alicia has worked with young people, educators, artists, families, and community partners, using the arts as a vehicle for connection, self-discovery, dialogue, and meaningful change.
Throughout her career, Alicia has worked in more than 100 New York City public schools, as well as community-based organizations and juvenile justice settings, designing and facilitating theater- and SEL-based programming for young people from elementary through high school. Her experience spans program leadership, curriculum development, teaching artist development, community partnerships, restorative and trauma-informed practices, and creating arts-based learning experiences that affirm young people's identities, voices, creativity, and lived experiences.
Alicia earned her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied literature and writing, and her Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Education Leadership, Organizations and Entrepreneurship (ELOE) program, focusing on arts education, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and program development.
Throughout her work as an artist, educator, writer, and organizational leader, Alicia believes in the power of art and storytelling to create spaces where people feel seen, meaningful dialogue can take place, and imagination can catalyze action. At WAFI, she is committed to honoring the organization’s legacy while helping shape its next chapter, one rooted in culture, creativity, connection, and community transformation.