who we are

staff & board

Meet the staff and board of UAC.

Executive Director

Lakeisha Edwards

Lakeisha Edwards is a dynamic leader in the arts and nonprofit sectors, dedicated to fostering inclusivity, empowering artists, and transforming communities through public art. A native of Covington, Tennessee, she serves as Executive Director of the UrbanArt Commission (UAC) in Memphis.

She holds degrees in Social Work and Psychology from the University of Memphis and has led initiatives in child support services, food security, and arts advocacy. Before joining UAC, she served as Executive Director of Art Ventures in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she championed artist development, arts education, and community engagement. She also has extensive experience in public service, having worked as Operations Manager for Maximus Child Support Services, overseeing policy implementation and program operations.

Lakeisha is a graduate of the BLDG Memphis City Builders Cohort, a Small Business Council Member with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Memphis Cultural Coalition, the Medical District Park Advisory Committee, and the Junior League of Memphis. She also lends her expertise as a grant reviewer for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Her leadership at UAC has been recognized by the Memphis Business Journal for advancing diversity in business, and she was featured in Memphis Magazine’s “Who’s Who” for 2024. She was recently interviewed by Forbes magazine for her role in bringing Monuments to Motherhood to Memphis—an initiative by artist Molly Gochman that honors caregivers through powerful, interactive public art.

In October 2024, she served as one of four judges for The Beauty of Change: The Frances Dancy Hooks Art Award & Exhibition at the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change, reviewing submissions that explored transformation, resilience, and inspiration through visual storytelling. She was also a featured speaker at Dixon Gallery & Gardens’ “Women in the Arts” event, where she participated in the panel discussion “Don’t Go Baroque: Supporting Yourself as a Visual Artist.”

A respected voice in leadership and community engagement, Lakeisha has facilitated leadership and team-building sessions, including presenting “Harmony and Hustle: Balancing Team Building with Peak Performance” at the New Memphis Leadership Summit. She has also shared insights on the intersection of arts, culture, and business as a panelist for New Memphis’ “Celebrate What’s Right: Creative Economics!”

e :: lakeisha@uacmem.org

p :: 901.552.3934

Sr. Program manager

Kayla J. Smith-Hardy

Kayla J. Smith-Hardy joined the UAC team in March 2023. Proudly born and raised in Memphis, she cherishes the unique history and culture of the city. She is a relational community organizer, facilitator, and social impact leader. Kayla J. is the Founder of Lilac Impact Services, LLC- a consultancy where social impact meets strategic goals. Kayla J. is a 2021 M.Div graduate from Harvard University. Her senior master thesis, “Something is Happening in Memphis”: Black Spirituality and Culture of Resilience in Memphis, Tennessee guides her love for exploring and connecting with Memphians and our experiences. She is also a 2018 graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, majoring in Human Rights and Justice.  Kayla J. is a graduate of the National Civil Rights Museum: Unpacking Racism for Action- Cohort 7.  She grounds her work in womanism, transformative justice, and community engagement.

e :: kayla@uacmem.org

p :: 901.343.6983

Program manager

Richard J. Echols

Richard Echols, a proud native of Memphis, TN, joined the UAC team in June of 2022. Growing up in Memphis exposed Richard to various forms of art such as poetry, music, and visual art. This early exposure sparked his interest in drawing people, a passion that has remained central to his practice. Richard attended Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where he earned a B.S. in Art Practices, focusing on painting and art education. His collegiate experience deepened his commitment to mentorship, which continues to shape his teaching philosophy.

In May 2021, Richard earned his MFA in Painting from the University of Memphis. Throughout his time in Memphis, he has exhibited at The Art Museum of the University of Memphis, Crosstown Arts, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and The Brooks Museum. In addition to his work as a painter and educator, Richard is also a freelance photographer and videographer, extending his artistic practice into digital media.

e :: richard@uacmem.org

p :: 901.881.8205

Program manager

Travis C. Washington

Communications manager

Belinda Herrera

Since December 2024, Belinda Herrera has led communications at UrbanArt Commission, where she crafts compelling storytelling, drives media strategy, and elevates public visibility around local art in Memphis—advancing the mission that art is a transformative tool for community building.

A proud bilingual (English/Spanish) Mexican‑American, she holds a BBA in Business Management with a Marketing minor from the University of Memphis. Before joining UAC, Belinda was deeply engaged in community leadership, including founding the Hispanic Business Student Association at her university and building networks to support Hispanic students and businesses in Memphis.

At UAC, Belinda leads press outreach, newsletters, event promotion, and campaigns like the Public Art Collector program. She works collaboratively with artists, community groups, and media outlets—ensuring citywide projects resonate authentically and inclusively.

e :: belinda@uacmem.org

p :: 901.290.0955

Past Board Members

UrbanArt's development would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of its Board supporters throughout its history. The following individuals have been instrumental to fulfilling UrbanArt's mission.

Kojo McLennon, Natalie Chamoun, Ashley Finch, Dr. Russ Wigginton, Ed Wallis, Harley Steffens, Desiree Lyles Wallace, Tonya Meeks, Rachel Knox, Lee West Morris, Andrew Phillips, Joel Halpern, Anna Wunderlich, Marina Pacini, Kerri Hayes, Robert Fogelman, Charles Shipp, Kristin Newman, Kevin Sharp, Amanda Goetze, Jim Lenschau, Kim Williams, Mary Jane Fuller, Jason Yarbro, Jeff Hudson, Krystal Johnson, Susan Adler-Thorpe, Kathy Albers, Barbara Andrews, Regena Bearden, Jack Belz, Patricia Bladon, Earl Blankenship, Rusty Bloodworth, Kirkpatrick Bobo, Doug Carpenter, Coleman Coker, Carol Coletta, Shannon Dixon, Phil Dotson, Hallie Elliot, Jay Etkin, Barbara Feibelman, Mott Ford, Michelle Fowlkes, Diane Goldstein, Leslie Gower, Cynthia Ham, Nicole Haney, Iris Harkavy, Sutton Mora Hayes, Will Hergenrader, Ethele Hilliard, Carey Hoffman, George Hunt, Kristi Jernigan, Chris Jones, Tom Jones, Dan Keel, Anne Keesee, John Kelley, Angie King, Brian Kuhn, Lisa Kurts, Scott Ledbetter, Baylor Ledbetter-Stovall, Mary Lowery, Leslie Leubbers, Jim Lutz, Jermoe Makowsky, Susan Mallory, Rick Masson, David McCarthy, Janie McCrary, Anne McGrew, Bryan Miller, Brenda Morris Partee, Dexter Muller, Greely Myatt, Jeffery Nesin, Alan New, Jackie Nichols, Robert Norcross, Chip Pankey, Beverly Perkins, Ken Plunk, Ray Pohlman, Biggs Powell, Linda Rendtorff, Frank Ricks, Diane Rudner, Nichole Saulsberry-Scarboro, Leslie Saunders, Ray Schultz, Peggy Seessel, Narquenta Sims, Ritchie Smith, Gregory Smithers, Ed Stanton, Melissa Taylor, Michael Thompson, Caroll Todd, Bob Towery, Ephraim Urevbu, Lisa Vasser, Jim Wallace, Robert Werle, Rosalyn Willis, Luke Yancy, Chantel Drake, Joel Parsons, and Amelia Thompson.

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