MUSEUM OF IMPACT
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN
Monica O. Montgomery, Founding Director
Monica Montgomery is a cultural entrepreneur, curating media, museums and memory to enhance creative inspiration. Monica is the Founding Director of the Museum of Impact leading MOI in working within communities to amplify grassroots movements, at the intersection of art and activism thru a creative lens. As a museum anarchist, she remixes the museum experience, interpreting diversity, creativity and community, to bridge past and present through the lens of legacy. Her thought leadership converges at the intersection of public programs, visitor experience, marketing and arts administration. She believes museums should be in service to society, and she speaks and consults with institutions along the eastern seaboard.
She is an alumna of Temple University with a Bachelor of Broadcast Communication, in Broadcast Journalism, and La Salle University, Master of Corporate Communication, in Public Relations. Monica is a Creative Community Fellow with National Arts Strategies, Innovative Cultural Advocacy Fellow with Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Cultural Equity Fellow with the New York Community Trust. Monica is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and a Board member of the New York City Museum Educators Roundtable. Additionally, Monica is the Co Founder and Strategic Director of Museum Hue, a platform for cultural diversity, advancing the viability and visibility of people of color, utilizing the arts, culture and museums as a medium for discussion, creation, and solutions.
Brittnie Knight, Managing Director
Brittnie is a young arts, cultural, community, and content creative working to enhance the voices of millennials and people of color in artistic spaces. Brittnie is the Managing Director of Museum of Impact working closely with founder Monica Montgomery to strengthen MOI and fulfill the mission of amplifying grassroots movements, at the intersection of art and activism thru a creative lens. As a community and content creative, she is passionate about creating space and conversation whether it's through digital, programmatic or performance mediums. With access and accountability at the forefront, she is ready to learn, support and grow within and outside of her communities.
Brittnie holds a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Communication Arts from Gannon University. Brittnie is a member of Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia, on the advisory board for BrideNEXT through Philadelphia's Painted Bride, and a co-host of up-and-coming podcast, Black Girls Laughing. Previously, Brittnie worked for the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Indego, The City of Philadelphia's bike share program. You can work with her at www.brittnieknight.com
Hannah Heller, Managing Oral Historian & Archivist
Hannah Heller is a doctoral student in the Art & Art Education program at Teachers College. She has a MA in Museum Education from Tufts University, and has worked in several cultural institutions including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., and most recently as a Research Fellow at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her research interests include the aesthetic experience and skills derived as a result of collaborative engagement with art.
She is specifically interested in developing skills around empathy and orientations towards social justice through close looking at art; she believes art can play an active and healing role, especially when addressing difficult topics such as race in a group setting. She has enjoyed contributing to the MOI team as an archivist, documenting the organization's "now" as it evolves, and looks forward to seeing where we go next!
Bryan Cooper Owens, Curator
Bryan Cooper Owens is a scholar of Africana Studies who combines anthropology, history and art history to examine the intersection of art, religion, and material culture within African and African Diasporic communities. In looking at both continental and Diasporic African communities, Bryan is keenly interested in the phenomena of African retentions and the ways in which African aesthetics and cultural ideas have become transformed when exposed to new environments. Bryan has taught courses in African American Studies and African history at the university level and worked with two historic museums to develop their exhibits concerning African American history. He hopes to further use his knowledge of Africana history and culture within the museum world.
The Museum of Impact relies heavily on the support of volunteers to make our pop-up programming happen all throughout the nation. We thank them for their time and effort past, present, and future!
Lara McDonnell, Erica Lester, Nora Daniel, Noah Smalls, Ashley Bowden, Charissa Ruth, Jessica Owens, Mautez Lovett, Roberto Dell'orco, Chelsea Hamlet, Khamaali Vernon, Ashley Mathis, Bridget Bartolini, Anna Takada, Kimberley Coleman, Kimberly McCleary, Ryan Hartley, and LaShaya Howie.