Natalie Allen

Age: 55

Founder and CEO, The Arts Empowerment Project

What gets Natalie Allen out of bed every morning is a drive to impact the lives of children and families. Her nonprofit, The Arts Empowerment Project, increases access to the visual and performing arts and culture as vehicles to spark opportunity, creativity, social justice, respect and resilience.

“Breaking the cycles of violence and trauma are more critical than most people realize. It’s not just underserved kids we need to reach, but all kids are vulnerable at one point or another. …

“The more we empower all of our kids with the tools they need to thrive — self-esteem, empathy and social-emotional learning skills — the brighter our collective futures will be,” she says.

A lawyer, artist and long-time Ballantyne resident, Allen says she is most excited about her community’s potential. “Smart, strategic growth is bound to spark enhanced cultural and innovative opportunities.”

She made history in July 2020 by becoming the first African American woman to chair the Mint Museum’s board of trustees, a post she holds through June 2022.

“Not too bad for a girl from Queens, NY, now living in the Queen City,” she says.