MEET the TEAM
Michele Byrd-Mcphee, Executive Director
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Michele Byrd-McPhee is the founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop. Michele has been working for many years to re-contextualize spaces and conversation of Hip-Hop culture along gender, sex, cultural and socio-historical and racial lines for decades along with situating the arts and dance techniques in spaces that honor and acknowledge their roots and the many creative pioneers who have shaped them. This is especially important given the ways in which Black dance (and Hip-Hop especially) has been co-opted into studio appropriation given its community cultural origins.
Michele just wrapped 16-years self-producing Ladies of Hip-Hop's annual festival. It is now in (3) cities across the globe and growing. LOHH Los Angeles, LOHH Toronto and the week-long festival in New York City. LOHH LA and LOHH TO are both done in partnership with other female organizers. Michele earned her BS from Temple University & an MS in Nonprofit Arts Management from Drexel University. Michele has also spent the last 10-years working in production working as a production coordinator at Brooklyn Academy of Music and then as a Senior Music Coordinator at Late Night with Seth Meyers. Michele currently serves as the Chief Strategic & Artistic Advisor Showtime NYC; along with her ongoing commitment as Executive Director at Ladies of Hip-Hop. Michele has been awarded an Integrated Arts Residency Fellowship grant through University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of the arts. |
PROGRAMING TEAM
Marina Poudret,
Program Director
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Marina is a philanthropic strategy consultant, supporting philanthropic organizations with program development and partnership building. Her experience includes supporting the design of a corporate foundation’s investment strategy to address socio-economic inequality in six U.S. cities and building a multi-stakeholder partnership to drive women’s economic empowerment. Marina is also an active dancer in the New York City Hip-Hop community, dancing for the past six years.
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Britney Brown,
Program Coordinator
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Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Britney displayed a love for music at a very young age. Growing up in a household where music was a driving force, she quickly cultivated her own appreciation and love for music and movement. She began her dance training at Harlem School of the Arts at the age of three, where she trained in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, African and Modern dance. Upon graduating from college, she gravitated more towards Hip-Hop and Street Styles. Britney has since performed at Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival, NYC Summer Stage, Harlem Stage and more. Artist credits include: 50 Cent, Trey Songz, Lil Mo, A Boogie With Da Hoodie, and Case.
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