Thomas Breen file photo
Jefferson announcing plans for 3rd annual Black Wall Street festival.
New Haven’s cultural affairs chief is bringing her diversity-focused toolkit to the cultural center of the Southeast.
Adriane Jefferson is taking a step up to become Atlanta’s new cultural affairs director on Feb. 28, that city’s mayor’s office announced Monday.
Jefferson wrote in her own Facebook post announcing the move that she is “excited to step into this new chapter in Atlanta — a cultural mecca that draws upon its deep history, resilience and creativity” and help “push culture forward in new and transformative ways.”
Jefferson has played a high-profile role in New Haven since Mayor Justin Elicker named her to the cultural affairs director post with a mission to promote (in language that hadn’t yet become the target of the MAGA movement) diversity, equity and inclusion. She developed a cultural equity plan, helped launch an annual Black Wall Street festival, promoted new cultural ventures with a BIPOC focus.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was quoted saying he hopes Jefferson will bring to his city a similar focus on “cultural inclusion” and “commitment to fostering a city where art and equity thrive together.”
“New Haven, you will always be in my heart. Atlanta, I can’t wait to work with you all!” Jefferson wrote in her Facebook post.