Board of Directors

Phillip Thomas
President/CEO

Abena Joan P. Brown
Co-Founder

Nancy C. McKeever
Chairman

Michael A. Lewis
Vice–Chair

Carol L. Adams
James W. Compton
Raullo M. Eanes
Douglas Gaines
Juanita Passmore
Dorothy Odell Foster
Lucille Burrus
Mary Ann Davis
Velma L. Fellings
Dr George E Smith
Useni Eugene Perkins
Lisa Maria James
Robert Blackwell
Gwen Armour
Mark Durham
John L. Foster, Jr.
Roderick Sawyer

After 40 years as president and producer of eta Creative Arts Foundation, co-founder Abena Joan Brown is stepping down as president. Effective March 1, 2011, Phillip Thomas will assume the position of president/CEO of the non-profit organization, one of the oldest and most prominent African American cultural institutions in the city of Chicago.

A son of eta, Thomas served as its development director from1996-2000.Most recently he was Senior Program Officer of Community Development at The Chicago Community Trust. In that capacity, he focused on developing program priorities, managing the budget and conducting grant application reviews and evaluations.

“This is a full circle moment for me,” said Thomas. “eta is where it all began. I’m honored to have been selected to serve as president and CEO and will do all that’s possible to lead its continued growth."

eta's Staff

Phillip Thomas, President/CEO

Runako Jahi, Artistic Director

Kemati J. Porter, Producing Director

Darryl Goodman, Technical Director

Nichelle Weathers, Business Manager

Kenneth Simmons, Building Manager/Photographer