Alicia Michelsen

For over 25 years Alicia has been growing medicinal herbs, making plant medicines, and teaching students of all ages how to enjoy herbs as food and medicine. Currently, she is the Director of The Learning Council in Paonia and sits on the boards of Viva la Vida Foundation, Western Colorado Migrant and Rural Coalition and Western Slope Native American Resource Center. Alicia is a Sexual Health Educator and advocate in Delta County, runs the TLC Kitchen, Arbol Farmers Market, and curates community events and educational opportunities with a focus on Social Justice and Inclusion.

Michael Cooper 

Michael serves as the Executive Artistic Director of the Paradise Theatre in Paonia, CO.  His songs and shows have been produced on Broadway and on stages across the country as well as internationally.  For more info: www.michaelcoopermusicandlyrics.com.

Jeff Skeels

Jeff grew up in Northern California with two music educators as parents. He attended San Jose State University as a Jazz Improvisation major with emphasis in world music and digital audio recording arts. After college Jeff spent 16 years as Audio Software Engineering Manager at Apple Computer. He moved to Colorado where he manages his family property, is involved in various non-profit organizations and enjoys spending time with his partner Debbie and their dogs.

Neal Schwieterman

While I completely failed to have our daughter Katya's first spoken word be Glockenspiel (it was angel), it was her playing the tuba in 6th grade that opened my eyes to the value of the arts. She had always done well in school, but after starting the tuba, her scholastic achievement skyrocketed. She has graduated from college, but still plays as her Zen time. I am a part of A4A so as to provide every student this possibility.

Heidi Hudek

Heidi Hudek is an entrepreneur, a creative, and a mother. She is a community advocate and promoter of the arts.

Heidi has owned her own business as a Bookkeeper for 4 years, and she specializes in non-profits. She has also been Treasurer, Secretary, and Executive Director of three nonprofits. She is a professional musician, photographer, and dancer; and a hobby canvas artist and jewelry maker.

While raising her son as a single mom, Heidi has lived in Delta County since 2005. She sees the North Fork Valley as an inspirational place, worthy of celebration. Heidi works to build community connections and collaboration, and to provide arts education for kids.

Rose Costello, Director of Arts For All

Rose is a lifelong artist and educator, receiving her BA in Fine Arts from The University of San Francisco. In 2016 she moved to Paonia and began teaching dance classes to adults and kids through the non-profit, Celebrate The Beat. As the Executive Director of Arts for All since 2021, she creates memorable creative experiences for Delta county’s youth. Her goals are to bring more events to the students of the North Fork Valley, inspire local artists to become teachers, and to begin her own movement therapy practice.