Real Team at Real Art Ways

Derek Hall is a dynamic anti-racist intergroup dialogue facilitator, public speaker, and activist committed to challenging beliefs and institutional culture rooted in systemic racism and other forms of oppression. Derek has worked in the diversity, equity, and inclusion field for over fifteen years, partnering with public and private school systems, for profit and non-profit organizations both locally and nationally. In 2019, Derek transitioned into his current role as Racial Equity Consultant & Coach with Ramiz Hall Consulting LLC where, believing that “changed people change systems”, he uses his gifts of facilitation, storytelling and community building to increase the racial & social consciousness of individuals and organizations. www.ramizhallconsulting.com

Brenda is Hartford Public Library’s Executive Director, Culture and Communications, and oversees HPL’s museum and archive, its ArtWalk gallery, and its Digital Library Lab, in addition to heading the Library’s Communications team.  She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Connecticut and a M.A. in American Studies – Museums, Communities and Archives from Trinity College, Hartford.

Paul is an Associate Director at Manchester Community College with over 30 years in civil service for the State of Connecticut. Paul has a passion for connecting people and helping to enrich the lives of those in our community. Paul serves on the Town of East Hartford Youth Advisory Board, is a member of Kiwanis of Glastonbury and a former Board member of the Manchester Community College Foundation. Paul has volunteered and supported numerous charities and not-for-profit organizations including Interval House of Hartford, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Riverfront Recapture and Visiting Nurse Association.

Victor is an artist who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Hartford. He has received awards and fellowships including the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Fellowship, Rhode Island School of Design Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Grant and a grant from the Art Matters Foundation. Victor graduated from The University of Hartford Arts School and The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. He lives and works in Worcester, MA.

Enid Rey is known both locally and nationally for her pioneering work in the fields of positive youth development, education, civic leadership, community-building and integration. Rey is CEO & President at BRAVE Consulting Solutions. Previously, Rey was CEO of Our Piece of the Pie and before that led the Hartford Public Schools’ School Choice Office which was nationally known for its integration efforts under her helm. A graduate of Hartford Public High School, Rey earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and her law degree from UCONN School of Law. Among other affiliations, Rey is an Annie E. Casey Foundation Children Youth and Families Fellow. She resides in Hartford with her 5 children and husband.

Gregg has spent his whole professional career at Travelers. Originally hailing from Wisconsin, he has worked in the Minnesota, London, UK and Hartford offices. He and his wife have a deep passion for all forms of art and is prior board member of the Minnesota Museum for American Art.

Yedalis Ruíz was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Hartford. She has been involved with Real Art Ways since she was 13 years old! 

Yedalis is a first-generation, bilingual college graduate. She is a graduate of Hartford High, Mt. Holyoke College, and has a Master’s and Ph.D. from UMass-Amherst. She teaches at UMass, working to increase access and equity in higher education.