At its June meeting last week, the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) Board of Directors officially named Melanie Miller as its Chief Executive Officer.  Miller, who has been serving as Interim CEO since December 1, will take the helm effective immediately.

“We are thrilled that Melanie has chosen to join our organization and we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional individual to lead Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey,” said KCFAA Board of Directors President Debbie Brooks.  “We look forward to continued growth and success.”

Under the leadership of Miller, KCFAA has already experienced numerous successes and growth.  Miller assumed the interim role right as KCFAA entered its 35^th year of service to the Greater Kansas City area.  The 35^th Anniversary Gala in May was one of the most successful fundraising events for KCFAA and Miller continues to push for growth in funding, membership, programs and volunteers.

“I am honored and excited for this opportunity to continue leading Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey,” Miller said. “I have been a ‘friend’ of KCFAA since it was first established in 1984.  Over the last 35 years, I have volunteered, attended Galas and student performances, and became a member of KCFAA because I valued its mission to be an educator, presenter and unifier.”

With more than 15 years of experience in strategic leadership positions at Hallmark and DEMDACO, Miller has vast tactical knowledge in finance, operations and multi-level team management.  She has been heavily involved in Kansas City’s philanthropic realm – serving as General Co-Chair for the Cotillion Scholarship Program and Co-Chair of the Arts Facet Committee for the Greater Kansas City Links, Inc.  She is also a former Board Member for the Women’s Foundation, the Women’s Employment Network (WEN) and the Kansas City Boys and Girls Choirs.  Miller has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

As KCFAA continues to celebrate 35 years in Kansas City, Miller understands the importance and impact of the organization’s loyal supporters.

“I am inspired by the amazing staff, board members, funders, students, parents and community supporters who are committed to the continued success of our programs and events,” Miller said.  “I look forward to working more with our community to further advance our mission and keep Mr. Ailey’s vision alive!”

One part of Alvin Ailey’s vision was to make dance accessible to all.  One of the ways KCFAA does this is through AileyCamp – a summer day camp that uses the art of dance to teach young students critical life skills, social skills and healthy lifestyle choices.  Each year, our staff members work with more than 200 middle school-age students (10-15), in Missouri and Kansas, to help them create the personal tools needed to improve self-discipline, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

“We invite everyone to watch our 2019 AileyCamp students shine at their final performances,” Miller said.

2019 AileyCamp Final Performances

7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 2

Eisenhower Middle School

2901 N. 72nd Street, Kansas City, KS 66109

7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 3

Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts

4747 Flora Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110

Kansas City was awarded a competitive national grant from the Gannett Foundation to develop a replicable innovative summer program for middle school students in the KCMO School district. AileyCamp has received many awards and honors, including the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and three federal agencies.  In November 2016, Michelle Obama presented AileyCamp Miami with the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the highest honor for creative, out-of-school youth development programs.

For more information on AileyCamp and all of KCFAA’s programs, visit www.kcfaa.org