Sacramento Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Commission

The Sacramento Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Commission provides advice and recommendations for promoting, encouraging, and fostering the arts, innovation, and tourism, in the city. The Commission is a 12-member advisory body appointed by Sacramento City Council, with eight members representing each district in Sacramento, a youth voice, and three appointed by the Mayor.

The Commission typically meets at 1 p.m. the second Monday of the month at New City Hall Council Chambers, 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Please check the agenda to confirm the location each month.

Not sure which district you belong to? Enter your information to find your council district.

 

Commission Members

Wellington Smith – District 1 

Wellington is an experienced education and creative professional, having dedicated over 13 years to community and youth development in the instructional space. He currently coordinates the youth voice for the California Department of Education, while also freelancing in brand development, photography, videography, and telecommunication engagement. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Wellington is passionate about cultivating the local community.

Kristen Nicole Blair - District 2

More information coming soon...

District 3 

Vacant - Position no longer accepting applications.

Cruz Naranjo – District 4 

Cruz Naranjo is a Sacramento native and has been an active member of the community and a long-time patron of the arts. He graduated from California State University of Sacramento in in 1985 with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Criminal Justice and Government and has been a State employee for 35 years. He has been an active union steward for the State Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 for the last 12 years and is also a member of the local Latino Democratic Club that endorses Democratic candidates for public office that are committed to addressing the Latino community’s issues and concerns for socio-economic development. As a patron of the arts, Cruz has performed on stage in local theater for “Teatro Espejo” under Director Manual Pickett and for “Teatro Nagual” under Director Richard Falcon and continues to support the performing arts. Cruz was also a member of Escritores Del Nuevo Sol (Writers of the New Sun) and shared his poetry writings.  

He is also an active supporter of the “Latino Center for Art and Culture” and helps to promote and support the annual “El Panteon” event, “Posadas”, and other art exhibitions by local artists. As a participant of the Sacramento Latino Community Roundtable, Cruz advocated for the inclusion of the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF) in city-sponsored artwork which lead to the “Flight” mural at the Golden One Center created by RCAF members Stan Padilla, Juanishi Orosco, and Esteban Villa. Cruz is also an avid art collector and owns an extensive personal collection of artwork by local Chicano artists Simona Hernandez, Juanishi Orosco, Esteban Villa, John Huerte, and as well as by Sonya Fe and Amado Pena. As a commissioner, Cruz will advocate for more public-funded art projects that enhance Sacramento’s transition to a major arts center and reflects its multicultural diversity for greater inclusion by supporting both visual arts and performing arts by local artists to ensure their livelihoods and to sustain Sacramento’s creative economy. The cumulative value of Cruz’s residency, knowledge, and experience enable him to bring history, familiarity, visibility, diversity, community engagement, and a new perspective to the Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission.

Roynell Anderson – District 5 

Roynell Anderson recently graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Mr. Anderson is also the Founder and President of a non-profit in Sacramento called Operation Helping Those Having Challenges, an organization that helps the homeless population, families that lost a loved one, and unites communities through video production and storytelling. Mr. Anderson has lived in District 5 (previously District 8) for over 15 years and enjoys giving back to the communities of Sacramento. In his free time, he likes to read books about entrepreneurship and video production. Soon, Mr. Anderson hopes to build his own video production company and continue to build on his political background by running for local offices in Sacramento County. Mr. Anderson has been in numerous management positions and uses his leadership skills to motivate others to follow their dreams and passions. Mr. Anderson is also a certified SEVA (Student Educational Video Awards) teacher and enjoys learning new materials and skills in his free time. He was also a coach for Kings and Queens-Meadowview's Basketball Team, where he led them to a perfect season.

Justina Martino - District 6 

Justina Martino (she/her) holds BAs in Art History and Studio Art from Rhode Island College and an MA in Art History from the University of California, Davis. She has 10 years of experience in the arts, including art project management, arts administration, grant writing, fundraising, community outreach, and education.

Through Art Tonic, she has worked with international, national, and local artists and organizations including London-based social practice artist, Joshua Sofaer, Rhode Island-based painter, Richard Whitten, the Sacramento Alliance for Regional Arts, and the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture. With Justina’s support, her clients have completed successful public art projects and have won prestigious grants from funders including the California Arts Council and the Pollock Krasner Foundation.

Justina is also a practicing artist who explores her personal history and mental health journey through painting, drawing, ceramics, writing, and community art projects.

Rob Tocalino – District 7 

Rob Tocalino is the Director of Marketing at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis. In his current role, he is responsible for earned and contributed revenue streams totaling approximately $3.5M annually. He serves as a member of the programming team, leads organizational communications and strategy including advertising and public relations, and oversees ticket office operations. In his time at the Mondavi Center, Rob has built successful revenue management and patron loyalty initiatives, modernized the delivery of program and enrichment materials, and served as a leader in developing communications strategies to help the organization reach the broadest possible audience. He previously served as the Associate Director of Marketing for SFJAZZ, during which time he led a Wallace Foundation-funded effort to attract a younger audience for jazz. The resulting program, SFJAZZ Hotplate, is still in place at the new SFJAZZ Center. Before SFJAZZ, Tocalino served as the Managing Director of Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

Luisa Lavulo - District 8 , Vice Chair

Luisa Lavulo, a California native, was raised in Minnesota and received the majority of her education while living there. Since returning to Sacramento in 2000, she met and married her husband, Ronald Lavulo, and together they have raised their five children for the past 16 years in District 8. With a full house of children, Luisa is dedicated to making her community a more sustainable and future-focused environment. Although she has a strong background in music her passion is her family. She loves serving as a youth leader at her church and has served as chair of TOFA Ambassadors Program for four years.

America Ramirez Lomeli - Youth Commissioner

America Ramirez Lomeli grew up in North Sacramento and attended Grant Union High School. She graduated from UC Davis in 2023 completing her double major in Political Science and Sociology with a Chicanx Minor. She loves art in all its forms and especially enjoys painting and creating. Art and Culture is a passion of hers. It makes her feel connected to her family and community. She grew up creating art experiencing her Mexican culture through her family and doing what she loved. She took art classes in college which formally introduced her to the logistical and academic side of art. She believes Art and Culture and the Creative Economy are an important part of the city. As a First-Generation Latina, she is excited to represent the youth and become more involved in her city through her position as a Youth Commissioner for this commission.

Dr. L. Steven Winlock – Mayor’s Appointee 

Dr. L. Steven Winlock is the Executive Director of the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), School of Education. The SCOE School of Education provides leadership and teacher development for the School Districts in Sacramento County. This is provided through credential programs, as well as through professional development opportunities for educators. Dr. Winlock has been an educator for over 40 years and has served as a classroom teacher, school principal and a school district associate superintendent.  Dr. Winlock serves as SCOE art liaison for art education that supports connecting our city, county office of education, school districts and art organizations in the implementation of art education in our schools. Dr. Winlock born and raised in Sacramento and has made Sacramento his forever home. His involvement in the community in the arts and culture has been as a musical performer and has served on many art and culture boards in the city. Dr. Winlock believes in the power of community. A community makes all things possible by working together. Sacramento’s art and culture is very much depended upon the quality of the work that our community does together to make Sacramento a destination point for arts and culture in this state. 

Priscilla Enriquez – Mayor’s Appointee, Chair 

Priscilla leads the team at the James B. McClatchy Foundation as Chief Executive Officer. With over 20 years in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector, she has curated investments across a wide range of issues that center communities and people seeking better lives for themselves and the next generation. As CEO she provides leadership in strategic philanthropic investments while supporting the bedrock tenets of democracy and advancing equity. Both a servant leader and advocate, Priscilla works to enhance and uphold the foundation’s promise to stand with the people of California’s Central Valley in partnership with her board, staff, and grantee partners. She currently serves on the boards of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), a national philanthropic serving organization advocating for AANHPI communities, and Fairytale Town, Sacramento region’s only outdoor park and arts organization promoting the imagination, creativity, and play for children. As a first-generation college graduate, Priscilla holds an A.B. and an M.A. from UC Berkeley. Her sweet spot is leading for change — to transition systems that divide and separate into ones that build and unite. She leads by innovating with a start-up mindset for community inclusion and systemic change. The arts have always been a focal point in her and her family’s lives, and her role on the commission is to ensure that every community in Sacramento can be uplifted through the arts.

Melinda Wilson Ramey – Mayor’s Appointee 

Melinda Wilson Ramey, Ph.D. is the Associate Dean of Students and Personnel in the College of Arts and Letters at Sacramento State. She holds an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University, a M.A. in Theatre also from Northwestern, and a B.A. in African American Studies from Vanderbilt University. As a university administrator, she focuses on student success initiatives, faculty/staff development and creative collaborations between the college and Sacramento community. She is the former chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance where she taught courses in theatre history, script analysis, directing, and African American and multicultural theatre.

ON THIS PAGE