Board & Team
World Arts Foundation brings artists, educators, and community leaders together to sustain Black arts and culture. Founded in 1976 and rooted in Portland’s Albina district, WAFI connects generations through arts education, cultural celebration, and community partnerships.
Our team
Gwen Thompson
President and CEO
Valerie Yvette Peterson
Executive Producer, Keep Alive the Dream
A poet, playwright, and community leader, Valerie brings more than three decades of arts and community service to WAFI’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. tribute. She was appointed executive producer in October 2025.
Valerie founded PROJECT C.O.C.O.A. (Creating Opportunities, Creating Outcomes through Action) and created “It’s Imperative to Speak Your Narrative.” Her writing has appeared through the Los Angeles Poets Society, Moonstone Press, and Sims Library of Poetry. She received the 2023 President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award and has experience in program development, budgeting, and operations.
Alicia Thompson
Director of Arts Education and Strategic Planning
A Brooklyn-born actress, educator, and writer, Alicia has more than two decades of experience in arts education. Her career includes work in more than 100 New York City public schools, community organizations, and juvenile justice settings.
Alicia connects theater, social-emotional learning, and youth development through restorative and trauma-informed practice. She develops curriculum and supports teaching artists working with students from elementary through high school. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College and an Ed.M. in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Liam Whitworth
Fundraising Consultant
Our board
Michael Jones
Board Chair
Grace Stratton
Board Member
Curtis Young
Board Member
Financial transparency
World Arts Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
EIN: 93-0830736 · Federal tax exemption: August 1983
2023 financial snapshot
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 · Form 990-EZ filed November 15, 2024.
Revenue: $193,276
Expenses: $130,003
Revenue less expenses: $63,273
Net assets: $134,284
Total liabilities: $0
View tax returns and financial history on ProPublica →
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search — search EIN 93-0830736.
Oregon Cultural Trust nonprofit directory →
Request public records →
PO Box 12384, Portland, OR 97212-0384