Dana M. Reed graduated with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education (2003). In 2010, She relocated from New York City to New Orleans to establish Hope Stone New Orleans (now Upturn Arts) where she is Founder and Executive Director. New Orleans Magazine named her “Top Ten to Watch” in 2013 and Ashe Cultural Arts Center awarded her “Cultural Ambassador of New Orleans” in 2012. As a dancer, she currently performs her own works with Gris Gris Strut in New Orleans. She believes that art has encouraged her to respect herself and others, and to have pride in her work. She says that art has also allowed her to create an original artistic voice and given her strength to move forward no matter what obstacles she may encounter. Dana believes that instruction in the arts is a necessity in all communities.

Impact

During the Accelerator, Upturn Arts completed a pilot program with KIPP Central City with 15 students, 100% LMI and 100% on scholarships. They hired four lead teachers ​​for their pilot program to write a curriculum for their NolARTS program. They also worked on their strategic and fundraising plan, and finished a complete rebranding of their organization that included changing their name from Hope Stone Kids to Upturn Arts. They raised $23,500 over the course of the Startup Accelerator and exceeded their goal for reserved funds.