EDITH SCHMIDT
EDUCATE | EMPOWER | INSPIRE
COLOR ME
AFRICA
FINE ARTS
Contact:info@colormeafricafinearts.com
Chicago Illinois USA
501c3 Non for Profit Since 2017
OUR USA TEAM
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
SORAYA SHEPPARD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
​
Soraya an entrepreneur and an avid art collector herself, established Color Me Africa Fine Arts, which continues to build its mission by creating opportunities for African artists to exhibit their Art internationally.
​
CMAFA was created with the goal to build bridges with Africa visual artists and the world. Leaving her home in South Africa to flee the apartheid, Soraya immigrated to the United States Twenty-five years after a self-imposed exile from South Africa, Soraya returned to reconnect with her country. What she discovered was systemic, corruption and exploitation of artists.
Months of research and conversations with artists and arts organizations both in the Chicago area and Johannesburg about art trends and the struggles black artists face specifically in post-apartheid South Africa, she found something special. Color Me Africa Fine Arts continues to
build its mission by creating opportunities for African artists to exhibit their Art internationally
​
​
​
SEAN TENNER
VICE PRESIDENT
​
A native of Naperville, IL and a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Sean Tenner has nearly 20 years of political campaign management, issue advocacy and non-profit/foundation consulting experience. He has worked for some of the most prominent elected officials and organizations in Illinois and Washington, DC – including President Barack Obama (US Senate Primary and General
Elections, 2004 and Presidential Campaign, 2008), Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the Illinois House of Representatives Democratic Majority, Washington, DC City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Evanston (IL) Mayor Steve Hagerty and Aurora (IL) Mayor Tom Weisner. Tenner also specializes in running issue and electoral campaigns highlighting important criminal justice and public safety issues.
​
​
​
NADIA PILLAY
SECRETARY/ PROJECT MANAGER
General responsibilities include managing the administrative needs of the organization. Additional responsibilities include project management, assisting with Art installations and managing direct communication with the artists Nadia is also a Chicago based Actress and Company member with
Theater Y and Award winning MPAACT Theatre Company.
She earned her B.F.A in Theater at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She developed her theater credits with award winning companies such as Vagabond Acting Troupe, B. Someday Productions, and Freedom Rising
Theater Company. Her Chicago credits include working with the acclaimed The Good Night Ladies in her one-woman show 22nd Century. She has had the privilege of performing a one woman show by Marie Cisco, Invisible
Crowns with Congo Square's new playwrights’ series. She was recently seen in Theater Y's critically acclaimed Self -Accusation and Jeff nominated Spoken Word with MPAACT theater. In addition to acting Nadia is a writer, director, and a producer.
​
​
​
STEPHANIE M. GEORGE
ARTIST/DESIGNER
​
Stephanie is an Alumni of The School of The Art Institute of Chicago with over 2 decades of experience creating work in Fine Art, Video, and Graphic Design. She is the owner and marquee designer at Time N Design Studio, where she works with several businesses, authors, and entrepreneurs to develop presentations that help build their brands. She also served for many years in the Art Education arena as an artist and public art facilitator, completing murals and other special projects with inner city youth.
JUDITH ABURMIS
TREASURER
​
Judith advises healthcare organization clients on accounting and tax planning issues, as well as medical practice valuations, physician employment contract reviews, physician compensation determination, managed care contract reviews, revenue enhancement reviews and financial forecasts. She also consults on strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions and business and practice startups for hospital-physician joint ventures and ambulatory surgical center development.
​
​
​