ABOUT US

Who We Are: Art Empowers WorldWide uses the arts as a vehicle to encourage social change in areas that are at-risk globally and at home. We offer high quality, responsive and relevant creative opportunities to those who do not have access – namely people living in underserved and stressed communities. We bring together professional artists with the opportunity to create projects and programs that help bridge the gap between development and poverty.We also function as an advocacy and referral organization for the artists with whom we work.

Our Team: Our team has decided to dedicate their combined professional and life experiences to create an organization focused on efforts to making positive changes around the globe. Together we bring over 40 years of professional expertise and education in International Relations, Information technology, Sales and Project Management. We hope to utilize our skill sets to follow our passion for the arts and successfully drive the efforts of Art Empowers Worldwide.

Gregory Jackson
Director Of Operations

Gregory is responsible for all the Technology and Operational aspects of Art Empowers serving as the Director of Operations for AE Worldwide.

Gregory Jackson spent over 18 years as a Management Information and Network Engineer Consultant to large organizations across the USA. His professional career has allowed him to gain invaluable experience working for global corporations such as Xerox and T- Mobile and has allowed him to gain expertise across many sectors including the fields of Telecommunications, Medical Technology and Education. His educational background includes professional designations in Cisco and Network Technology coupled with college education in the areas of Commercial Art and Illustration, Bio-medical engineering and Information Technology. He has a passion for the arts which includes photography has decided to exchange his corporate lifestyle to focus his energy and expertise to make a difference in the world by following his love and talent for the arts. He has served in the past as President of the African American Association in College and has several years experience working with Education and Technology in the Oregon School District. Gregory is dedicated to make a difference in the lives of children and has a strong desire to explore new cultures and travel the world. His life experiences and interests have made this jump to social entrepreneurship a natural progression and his dedication to the organization and its goals have been instrumental in launching Art Empowers.

Ayesha Vahidy
Director Of Programs

Ayesha is responsible for the marketing and development aspects of Art Empowers serving as the Program Director of AE Worldwide

Ayesha Vahidy has over 13 years experience working in the public and private sector and holds a degree in International Relations along with a professional designation in SAP and is certified as a Global Professional in HR/GPHR. She has held progressive roles in the private sector in Sales,Project Management and Human Resources working in large scale corporations including IBM, Bell Canada and Monster.com. Her experience in the public sector have allowed her to work directly for the Toronto District School Board and most recently as a Sector Consultant for a non profit organization focusing on integrating New Immigrants to the Canadian work force. In addition she has served on the board for Multi-Facet Diversity Solutions a company dedicated to helping organizations improve diversity in the workplace. She has always had a deep desire to make a difference in the world and after a successful battle with Cancer over the last year has decided to abandon the corporate world and focus her efforts in making a difference in the lives of women and children globally. Ayesha has an innate need to travel and her past travels to Africa, Middle East,Asia and Europe have given her first hand knowledge of the deep disparity that is apparent in our world today. She is a strong believer in changing lives through education and is committed to the ideals embodied By Art Empowers.