(828) 782-3382 | connect@cortinajenelle.com

education

honors & achieved milestones

Liberty University May 2015 Lynchburg, VAMasters of Arts in Management & Leadership

Liberty University (Transfer) May 2013 Lynchburg, VA Bachelor of Science in Multi-Disciplinary Studies: Business, Education & Social Sciences

University of North Carolina at Greensboro August 2004 to May 2009Greensboro, NC Bachelor of Science in Social Work

To shift community, business and organizational culture through authenticity, creativity, entrepreneurship, equity, and collective leadership.

personal mission statement

catalyzing the ART of authenticity.

cortina jenelle

• Western NC Womens’s Leadership Award in Art + Culture (2019)• Leadership Asheville: 33rd Class Inductee (2014)• 40 Under Forty: Asheville (2013)• Certi�ed Leadership Coach, American Assoc of Christian Counselors | Liberty University (2013)• Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, WNC Minority Enterprise Development (2012)• Lloyd International Honors College, Certi�cate of Completion | UNC-Greensboro (2009)• Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society | UNC-Greensboro (2008)• Dean’s Ambassadors | School of Health & Human Sciences, UNC-Greensboro (2007)• Level III Tutor | Special Support Services, TRIO Program, UNC-Greensboro (2005-2008)• Camp Counselor | All Arts, Sciences & Technology Camp, UNC-Greensboro (2005-2008)• Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society | UNC-Greensboro (2005)• University Ambassadors | O�ce of Admissions, UNC-Greensboro (2005)• Dean’s List | UNC-Greensboro (2004, 2007, 2008 & 2009)• North Carolina Academic Scholar | Freedom High School (2004)• Athletic Award, Women’s Track | Freedom High School (2003)• Project Uplift | UNC-Chapel Hill (2003)• Certi�cate of Invitation | National Student Leadership Conference (2003)• Burke County Camp Med | Wake Forest University, Northwest AHEC (2002)• PRISM | Wake Forest University (2000) • Project Search Academy | Wake Forest University (2001)• Merit Award, Education Talent Search | Western Piedmont Comm College (2001)

facilitation, teaching & lectures

Authenticity | Equity | Social Justice + Anti-Racism | Youth Engagement + Development | Inclusion | Community OrganizingLeadership Development | Cooperative Development | Business + Entrepreneurship Cultural Responsiveness | CreativityYoruban Spirituality | Creative Action + Strategy | Millennial Thought + Leadership | LGBTQ A�nity | Wellness + Self-CareDisrupting Oppression | Relationship Building | Unlearning Whiteness | Hope

public speaking

• Nov 2019 - Presenter | Grassroots Cooperatives, Artist-Led Solidarity | Solidarity Economy Learning Tour, Cooperation Jackson • Oct 2019 - Facilitator | Grassroots Cooperatives, Actualizing Change | Conference for Community Arts Education

• Sep 2019 - Facilitator | Closing the Opportunity Gap Symposium | UNC Asheville + Asheville City Schools • June 2019 - Presenter + Speaker | Inevitability of Creativity | Western Women’s Business Conference

• May 2018 - Co-Facilitator | Becoming an Equity Advocate | Asheville City Schools Foundation • April 2018 - Program Designer + Co-Facilitator | Black Lives of UU Revival

• April 2018 - Co-Facilitator | Getting to the Point! Equity Action Planning for Nonpro�ts | WNC Nonpro�t Pathways

• February 2018 - Speaker | Queer Environment Panel: The Signi�cance of Queer Persons in the Environmental Movement

• October 2017 - Speaker | Bon�re Conference: The Power of Storytelling

• April 2017 - Workshop Presenter & Speaker | One Dozen Who Care, Annual Women’s Conference

• March 2017 - Trainer & Lead Facilitator, Teaching Artists Institute | LEAF Community Arts

• March 2015 - Co-Founder & Co-Director | Authentic Communities Summit

• December 2014 - December 2016 | Communications Director | LEAF Community Arts

• May 2013 – Workshop Facilitator | Caldwell County Arts Council. Lenoir, NC.

• May 2013 – Workshop Facilitator | Appalachian Enterprise Center. Boone, NC.

• April 2013 – Workshop Presenter | Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Lenoir, NC.

• March 2013 – Guest Panelist | Appalachian Funder’s Network Annual Meeting. Asheville, NC.

• January 2013 – Workshop Presenter | Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Boone, NC.

• October 2009 – Guest Speaker | Multicultural A�airs – UNC Pembroke. Pembroke, NC.

• September 2009 – Guest Speaker | Multicultural Education – Guilford College. Greensboro, NC.

• November 2008 – Workshop Facilitator | Guilford Child Development. Greensboro, NC.

• May 2008 – Master of Ceremonies | Graduation, School of Health & Human Sciences. Greensboro, NC.

• July 2007 – July 2008 – Board of Representatives Member | Undergraduate Representative. National Assoc. of Social Work • January 2007 – August 2008 – Program Mentor | Bill Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Alexandria, VA.

• September 2007 – Conference Facilitator | Bill Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Alexandria, VA.

event design & creative coachingOne Dozen Who Care, Annual Conference • Society for Human Resource Management, Annual NC Conference (LEAD Di�erently) • Southern Leadership Jam • Appalachian State University • Creative Sector Summit • Haywood Community College • Caldwell Commu-nity College & Technical Institute • UNC – Greensboro • UNC – Pembroke • University of Tennessee – Knoxville • Mycelium School • Appalachia Funders Network • LEAF Community Arts • Kinnection Campout • Mountain BizWorks • New Mountain AVL • Sirens on the Mountain Music Festival • The Arts Council of Henderson County • Small Towns Summit • AB-Tech Community College • Asheville Area Arts Council • Venture Local Fair • UNC-Greensboro Entrepreneur Day • Western Carolina University Graduate Education Summit • Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC • Caldwell County Arts Council • Bone�ower Botanikals • YES! World • Restorative Culture Confer-ence • Creative Sector Summit • Haywood Community College • Medicine Wheel Collective • Culture’s Edge • School of Integrated Living (SOIL) • Ashevillage Sanctuary • Renaissance Hotel • Dancing Shiva • NuMundo • Folk Alliance International

• Southern Leadership Jam – YES! World (2018) • Southern Leadership Jam – YES! World (2016) • Certi�ed Trainer, Art of Facilitation – Partners for Youth Empowerment (PYE) Global (2015)• Winter Learning Journey Cohort – Mycelium School (2015)• Leadership Asheville – 33rd Class Inductee (2014)• NC Rural Economic Development Institute – Nominee (2012)• Project Safe & Ally Training, LGBT Center | NC State University (2010)

certifications + ongoing (un)learning

brief biographyCortina Jenelle [she/they] is a queer, Two-Spirit descending from generations of Southern, West African, Latinx & Native American peoples. Cortina is an artist, activist, community organizer, creative facilitator, social designer, and communication architect. Cortina is the Founder & Creative Director of Artists Designing Evolution, LLC (adé PROJECT), a grassroots community organization comprised of artists, organizers, students, educators, entrepre-neurs, and community leaders that come together to work cooperatively, and collectively on projects, programs + initiatives that �ex to be responsive while leveraging resources for long-term impact, and community-wide sustainability.

Since 2007, Cortina has designed, produced, or facilitated hundreds of trainings, workshops, programs, and community events centered on authenticity, community building, creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership across the US. In that time, Cortina has worked alongside nonpro�ts, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, artists, festival producers, conference organizers, small businesses and activists alike. Cortina holds a Master of Arts in Management & Leadership; a Bachelors of Science in Business, Education & Social Science; and a Certi�cation in Creative Facilitation through PYE Global‘s Art of Facilitation program. Throughout her career, Cortina has received recognition as the WNC Minority Enterprise Development’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year (2012); 40 Under Forty: Asheville (2013); and inductee to Leadership Asheville (2014). Cortina ‘s work is informed by her lens as an artist and deep belief in the power of community as well as authentic relationship building. With a background in tourism, hospitality, marketing, education, nonpro�t management, art, and community organizing, Cortina has served on numerous Boards and Advisory committees, including MLK Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County; YMCA 21st Century Horizons Program; Asheville Area Arts Council; Bele Chere; and Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club. Ultimately, Cortina’s work is fueled by their personal mission – to shift community, business and organizational culture through authenticity, creativity, entrepreneurship, equity, and collective leadership.

leadership & management roles held • Founder & Creative Director – Artists Designing Evolution (ade PROJECT) (2018-present)• Program Coordinator – WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition (2018-2019)• Contractor & Designer – CortinaJenelle.com (2016-present)• Community Relations Director – LEAF Community Arts (2016-2018)• Communications Director – LEAF Community Arts (2014-2016)• Founder & Managing Director – Visit & Venture (2011-2015)• Sales & Reservation Team Member - Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (2011-2013)• Reservations Manager – Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club (2010-2011)• Guest Services Manager – O. Henry Hotel / Proximity Hotel (2008-2010)

catalyzing the ART of authenticity.