nonprofit leadership
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Kai utilizes her capacities as an administrator and educator to cultivate professional spaces that are inclusive and generative. Kai's contributions to the field include spearheading an organizational transformation for Museum Educators of Southern California (MESC) and establishing the Teen Programmers Network, a hub for youth development professionals to collectively enrich teen programming in Los Angeles.
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leadership experience
Museum Educators of Southern California (MESC), Board of Directors
Past President, Board Member-at-Large, 2017 – 2019; Successfully transitioned off the board with full confidence in the board's drive to nurture a thriving organization and community of museum educators
President, 2015 – 2017; Initiated and managed a member-driven organizational transformation that culminated in a new mission, vision, and board structure; recruited committed members for a steering committee; managed the process of securing the first two grants ever awarded to the organization; implemented crowd sourced pilot programming model; increased membership and engagement during organizational transition
Vice President, 2013 – 2015; Co-planned and facilitated board meetings with president; motivated regional chairs through quarterly meetings; hired graduate student consultant to research fundraising strategies; prioritized hiring consultant for preliminary strategic planning in the form of focus groups; analyzed focus group transcripts and articulated findings to membership through presentation and written report; served on California Association of Museum’s Collaborative Networks Steering Committee
Public Relations Co-Chair, 2011 – 2013; Managed contact lists and social media; composed and sent membership emails
Teen Programmers Network
Co-Founder, 2017 – 2019
Established an informal network of youth development professionals dedicated to serving teens in Los Angeles; implemented processes to share resources between programs; organized and facilitated quarterly meetings that utilize successful teen program strategies to build community and shared knowledge
Room to Rise: The Lasting Impact of Intensive Teen Programs in Art Museums
Researcher-Practitioner, 2012 - 2016
Three-year IMLS-funded, collaborative researcher-practitioner study of long-term impacts of teen programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), The Whitney Museum of American Art, Walker Art Center, and Contemporary Art Museum Houston; trained in research methods and conducted analysis of data and findings; organized regional share out event that seeded the Teen Programmers Network; presented findings locally and nationally to support educators in designing and advocating for effective teen programs
A Blueprint for Creative Schools Task Force
Arts Education Task Force Member, 2012 - 2013
Appointed by California State Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve on the California Arts Council and State Superintendent Joint Task Force; collaboratively wrote blueprint for art education in California public schools with stakeholders across the state
Past President, Board Member-at-Large, 2017 – 2019; Successfully transitioned off the board with full confidence in the board's drive to nurture a thriving organization and community of museum educators
President, 2015 – 2017; Initiated and managed a member-driven organizational transformation that culminated in a new mission, vision, and board structure; recruited committed members for a steering committee; managed the process of securing the first two grants ever awarded to the organization; implemented crowd sourced pilot programming model; increased membership and engagement during organizational transition
Vice President, 2013 – 2015; Co-planned and facilitated board meetings with president; motivated regional chairs through quarterly meetings; hired graduate student consultant to research fundraising strategies; prioritized hiring consultant for preliminary strategic planning in the form of focus groups; analyzed focus group transcripts and articulated findings to membership through presentation and written report; served on California Association of Museum’s Collaborative Networks Steering Committee
Public Relations Co-Chair, 2011 – 2013; Managed contact lists and social media; composed and sent membership emails
Teen Programmers Network
Co-Founder, 2017 – 2019
Established an informal network of youth development professionals dedicated to serving teens in Los Angeles; implemented processes to share resources between programs; organized and facilitated quarterly meetings that utilize successful teen program strategies to build community and shared knowledge
Room to Rise: The Lasting Impact of Intensive Teen Programs in Art Museums
Researcher-Practitioner, 2012 - 2016
Three-year IMLS-funded, collaborative researcher-practitioner study of long-term impacts of teen programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), The Whitney Museum of American Art, Walker Art Center, and Contemporary Art Museum Houston; trained in research methods and conducted analysis of data and findings; organized regional share out event that seeded the Teen Programmers Network; presented findings locally and nationally to support educators in designing and advocating for effective teen programs
A Blueprint for Creative Schools Task Force
Arts Education Task Force Member, 2012 - 2013
Appointed by California State Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve on the California Arts Council and State Superintendent Joint Task Force; collaboratively wrote blueprint for art education in California public schools with stakeholders across the state
awards
2024: Leaders of Color Professional Development Fund, WESTAF
2023: Leaders of Color Professional Development Fund, WESTAF
2017: Emerging Leaders of Color Program Participant, WESTAF
2016: Hemera Foundation Fellowship for Educators
2013: Arts for LA 2013 LA Convergence Emerging Leader Scholarship
2012: Creative Capacity Fund (CCF) Quick Grant, Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)
2012: Albert B. Friedman Grant, School of Arts and Humanities, Claremont Graduate University (CGU)
2012: Transdisciplinary Reading Group Grant, CGU
2012: California Association of Museums (CAM) Fellowship
2011: CCF NextGen Grant, CCI
2010: Ahmanson Foundation Arts Management Fellowship, CGU
2023: Leaders of Color Professional Development Fund, WESTAF
2017: Emerging Leaders of Color Program Participant, WESTAF
2016: Hemera Foundation Fellowship for Educators
2013: Arts for LA 2013 LA Convergence Emerging Leader Scholarship
2012: Creative Capacity Fund (CCF) Quick Grant, Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)
2012: Albert B. Friedman Grant, School of Arts and Humanities, Claremont Graduate University (CGU)
2012: Transdisciplinary Reading Group Grant, CGU
2012: California Association of Museums (CAM) Fellowship
2011: CCF NextGen Grant, CCI
2010: Ahmanson Foundation Arts Management Fellowship, CGU
