Alicia Michelsen

For over 25 years Alicia has been growing medicinal herbs, making plant medicines, and teaching students of all ages how to enjoy herbs as food and medicine. Currently, she is the Director of The Learning Council in Paonia and sits on the boards of Viva la Vida Foundation, Western Colorado Migrant and Rural Coalition and Western Slope Native American Resource Center. Alicia is a Sexual Health Educator and advocate in Delta County, runs the TLC Kitchen, Arbol Farmers Market, and curates community events and educational opportunities with a focus on Social Justice and Inclusion.

Michael Cooper 

Michael serves as the Executive Artistic Director of Juniper Circle Productions, in Paonia, CO.  His songs and shows have been produced on Broadway and on stages across the country as well as internationally.  For more info: www.michaelcoopermusicandlyrics.com.

Ali Lightfoot

Ali Lightfoot has a diverse background in management, youth program development, production and promotion for media organizations and non-profits.   Her career in media began in New York City working as a producer for United Broadcasting, and then NBC’s Olympic Profiles division.  In 2009, Ali moved with her family to Paonia Colorado where she was hired as the program director at KVNF Community Radio. At KVNF she directed a youth multimedia and journalism training program called “Pass the Mic,” and produced the award-winning podcast Local Motion and the music video series KVNF Field Sessions.  

She went on to manage KVMR in Nevada City California where she started a new youth focused music discovery radio station called KVMRx.  She currently works as the Executive Director at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia where she is developing programs to engage the next generation of artists and leaders.

Neal Schwieterman

While I completely failed to have our daughter Katya's first spoken word be Glockenspiel (it was angel), it was her playing the tuba in 6th grade that opened my eyes to the value of the arts. She had always done well in school, but after starting the tuba, her scholastic achievement skyrocketed. She has graduated from college, but still plays as her Zen time. I am a part of A4A so as to provide every student this possibility.

Heidi Hudek

Heidi Hudek is an entrepreneur, a creative, and a mother. She is a community advocate and promoter of the arts.

Heidi has owned her own business as a Bookkeeper for 4 years, and she specializes in non-profits. She has also been Treasurer, Secretary, and Executive Director of three nonprofits. She is a professional musician, photographer, and dancer; and a hobby canvas artist and jewelry maker.

While raising her son as a single mom, Heidi has lived in Delta County since 2005. She sees the North Fork Valley as an inspirational place, worthy of celebration. Heidi works to build community connections and collaboration, and to provide arts education for kids.

Sara ‘Tonin” Rodriguez, Director of Arts For All

Sara Tonin is a visual artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Colorado Mesa University, where she focused on community-based arts, sculpture, and metal casting, and minored in Psychology. She also holds an Associate of Arts in Psychology from Colorado Mountain College, along with extensive coursework in Anthropology and Archaeology. Guided by the belief that art has the power to heal, Sara is committed to expanding access to arts education and creative opportunity. Through her work as an art educator with BAM! (Business Art Mentorship) in Mesa County, she supports at-risk youth with foundational art skills and business mentorship. Her practice centers on co-creation, cultural connection, and empowering marginalized communities through art. She is excited to share all she’s learned as a student, mom and artist co-creating in the North Fork Valley and Western Slope for 25 years.