our staff

Director

Jackie (she/her) founded and leads the community at CFPA. She is the point of contact for neighbors, community members, and tenants looking for a way to access space to build a practice or deepen a business idea. She is a mentor, colleague, and collaborator with members of the artistic community in Minneapolis and across the country. A practicing artist of Armenian descent, her most recent work has focused on questions of site, context, commerce, and the public. Jackie has a PhD in Performance Studies from NYU. She has created or co-created dozens of workshops on art practice for Master’s students and four major conferences on performance on both West and East coasts.

Managing Director

Luis (he/him) is a transplant from the garlic capitol of the world, Gilroy, California. He has experience on stage and behind the curtain, helping artists and professionals become prepared for what they do best. He was the Director of Guest Relations for several seasonal events across California for six years. His many roles consisted of resource allocation for artists, managing venue space for thousands of visitors, event and finance planning. He is currently going to school and working part-time at one of our local hospitals. Luis enjoys creative writing and spending time with his two cats.

Education and Community Development

With a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a deep commitment to community-centered leadership, Abrecia (sher/her) brings a wealth of experience in board governance, artistic direction, and cultural advocacy. Currently serving as Vice President of the Board at the Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive spaces for performance-based artists and strengthening community engagement through the arts.

Her leadership portfolio includes roles such as Board Member for Marketing and Community Outreach at the West Indian Dance Theater Company, Community Liaison for Jukeboxx Mas Band in Chicago, Technical Director for Afrocontigbo, and general board member for the South Asian Arts Theater House, contributing to cross-cultural artistic collaboration and representation.

Rooted in a background of performance and cultural organizing, Abrecia was the Artistic Director of the ASA Dance Troupe at Illinois State University, where she also served as a Cultural Ambassador through the university's International House. She is also an affiliate member of the United Arts Collaborative based in MN. Her work bridges performance, identity, and community, consistently elevating underrepresented voices and celebrating cultural heritage through movement, storytelling, and collaborative leadership.