Our Team
Tom Block
Founder and Executive Director
Recording Secretary
Tom is a playwright, author of six books, and 25+ year exhibiting visual artist. He has shown his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East. Tom founded the International Human Rights Art Festival at Dixon Place (NYC) in March 2017. tomblock.com
Katiel Mack
IHRAM Speaks Podcast
Webby award winner for best writing for a podcast series, and nominated also for best limited podcast series (for her autobiographical voyage to sobriety, “F*cking Sober”), Mack brings her outsized talents to the IHRAM, interviewing artists from around the world. A NYC-based multi-hyphenate artist, Mack is also an actor, writer, producer and all around creative. https://www.mackstage.com
Bridget Reaume
IHRAM Publishes Editor
If she won the lottery — someone knock on wood, quick! — she would invest her time earning as many degrees as possible, absolving loan debt, and fighting for affordable education. She believes the most powerful social change derives from education and a mindful inclusion of all voices. Although her home is Portland, Oregon, you will find her currently gallivanting across Scotland, hiking in the Highlands and earning a Masters of Letters in Publishing.
Katherine DeChant
Publishing Associate
Katherine De Chant has worked as an editor for academic and nonprofit publishers for over 7 years. She recently completed a master's in human rights at Sciences Po in Paris, where she was also a Fulbright scholar, and now resides in New York City.
Daniela Jayakumar
Accountant
Daniela is a finance professional from India who now calls Detroit home. She specializes in data analysis and visualization, accounting standards and has experience working in a financial capacity with non-profits and hospitals in India and Nepal.
Mary Chirino
Google Ads Manager
Cuban-born Mary was the founder of the Love in Festivals in Cuba. The Love in Festival is part of an underground movement inside Cuban society. Mary has a decade of experience in the marketing field, has earned two Women Leader Scholarships from the US Department of State and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), member of the Society for Industrial and is a member of the Women Leaders of the Americas Alliance.
Kalpna Singh-Chitnis
IHRAM Publishes Translation Editor
Kalpna Singh-Chitnis is an Indian-American poet, actor, and filmmaker based in greater Los Angeles. She is the author of four poetry books and the founding editor of Life and Legends. She has received several awards for her film and literary works. She is a member of the United Nations Association of the USA and the founder and director of the Silent River Film and Literary Society and Silent River Film Festival.
Costanza Bugiani
Social Media Manager
Festival Assistant Producer
Costanza Bugiani is an Italian theatre-maker who moved to the U.S. two years ago. She co-founded Teatro del Mantice acting company based in Florence. She co-produced "Hamlet", a crowdfunded project (La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, NYC, August 2022). She's a temporary intern at The Tank in New York.
Terseer Sam Baki
African Book Series Editor
Terseer Sam Baki is the author of the celebrated poetry collection, "Euphoria of Sophistry" (Runner up, ANA Poetry Prize 2015), as well as the founding editor of Pen & Pad Arts Publishers, PAPA, Makurdi. He is also the Vice Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Benue State chapter. He is presently researching for a master's degree in Language Education, all at the Benue State University, Makurdi. He is a senior staff of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Interior.
Mbizo Chirasha
Director, African Secretariat, Zimbabwe
Founder of the Writing Ukraine Prize (2022-23), UNESCO-RILA Affiliate Artist (University of Glasgow, Scotland). 2020 Poet of Residence at the Fictional Café, 2019 IHRAF Pan Writivism/African Fellow, 2020 free-Speech Fellow at PEN -Germany Writers in Exile Program. Resident Coordinator at All Africa Live Poetry Symposium, Festival Poet at Poesia de Medellin (Columbia), Guest Speaker at SpokenWordOonline (Paris), 2019 live literature hub Producer at Sotambe Film Arts Festival (Kitwe, Zambia). 2009 Poet in Residence at ICACD (Accra, Ghana). 2009 Fellow at UNESCO-Photo Novel Intensive Training (Tanzania). 2011 United States Embassy, Harare Guest Poet at World Poetry Day (Harare, Zimbabwe). 2007 Producer/Coordinator of This is Artist Artist in Residence Project (Goethe-Zentrum, Harare). 2006 United Nations Tribute to Kofi Annan Poet.
Grace Suge
Director, African Secretariat, Kenya
Grace is a native of Eldoret town in Kenya. She is a published author whose works have gone on to be published by the International Human Rights Arts Festival and in Octo-Emanations, the eighth volume of the critically acclaimed Emanations literary anthology series. Her short story, ‘Laibon’s prophesy’ was awarded the second prize in the Creators of Justice Awards 2020 by the International Human Rights Arts Festival.
Wole Adedoyin
Director, African Secretariat, Nigeria
Wole Adedoyin is the President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) and the National Publicity Secretary (South) of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Adedoyin has published works in various literary reviews, journals and anthologies. The Gibran National Committee in Beirut, Lebanon appointed Wole Adedoyin as the Coordinator of Gibran Khalil Gibran Society in Nigeria and Africa.
Dr. Uche Akunebu
African Book Series Editor
Dr. Akunebu is a journalism teacher, public intellectual, poet, author, essayist and author of 24 books and publications in international journals. A former vice chair of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja chapter, ambassador of peace and a fellow of chartered institute of administrators. He is presently, the executive Director ,of Media Pen Academy, Abuja.
Board of Directors
Prashant Mupparapu
President
Prashant is passionate about IHRAM's work at the confluence of art and social justice, harnessing the powerful voice of art to highlight oppression and human rights violations globally. Growing up in India, he witnessed firsthand the sharp
contrasts and trade-offs that humankind is faced with today: poverty,
oppression and climate impact but also growth and ambition, fueling
innovation and entrepreneurism. Prashant has more than two decades of investing experience in
infrastructure, energy, resources sectors, particularly in energy
transition and climate adaptation. Prashant studied to be an engineer and an oceanographer, currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids.
Jian Gong
Treasurer
Chinese-born Jian Gong is a technology, cybersecurity and data privacy executive with over 18 years of experience working in information technology, media and healthcare. He is passionate about helping organizations scale their technology programs in a safe and secure manner. Jian currently resides in New Jersey
Patty McGoldrick
Board Member
Patty McGoldrick has been a member of the Major Gifts fundraising team at Villanova University for more than two decades. She came to Villanova to launch and lead a parent engagement and philanthropy effort, which has raised more than $100 Million for the University. Patty moved into a new role in 2023, building a team focused on fundraising in support of strategic initiatives across the University. Patty holds a Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University and a Master’s Degree in Public Relations from Rowan University. She lives in the Greater Philadelphia region, with her husband and daughter.
Mike Ruffner
Board Member
Detroit-born Mike Ruffner is the Deputy Coordinator for Financial and Programmatic Sustainability in the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC) at U.S. Department of State. He is leading the new PEPFAR effort to engage partner country Finance Ministries in the fight against HIV and in the investment into resilient and financially secure health systems. Mike is also the chair of the Board of Directors’ Audit and Finance Committee of the Global Fund for the Fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Sarah Feingold
Board Member
Born an artist, Sarah was Etsy's first attorney and 17th employee. For over nine years she helped Etsy scale from an inconspicuous startup to a publicly traded company. After that, she joined Vroom as its first General Counsel. In 2018, the New York Law Journal awarded her with the GC Impact Award. She is the creator/writer of the play, Dirty Legal Secrets, an investor, board member, and as an adjunct professor at NYU.
Danielle Str
Board Member
Danielle Strandson is a marketing professional currently working for the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. After earning degrees in art and international development, she built a career in marketing for nonprofits to help them share their mission and message with the world. Danielle has served on the board of several nonprofits including Hour Exchange Portland and Luke Leaders 1248. In her spare time, she engages in animal rescue volunteer work and enjoys traveling.
Volunteers
Julia García Garcés
IHRAM Publishes Reader
Julia is a very curious and passionate person who loves literature and music. She’s a Spanish woman traveling around bonny Scotland. Meanwhile, she’s studying her second masters in Publishing Studies since she wants to work in the publishing industry. Julia is persevering, determined and perfectionist when she has a task at hand..
Kelly Kaur
IHRAM Publishes Reader
Kelly grew up in Singapore, came to Calgary to get her degrees at the University of Calgary, and stayed longer than she thought she would. Universities appear to be her playground; as a university educator today, she must have taught over 10,000 students and graded over 60,000 essays. To take a break from marking, she decided to write her own novel. Kelly lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Kriestelle Pradieu
IHRAM Speaks Volunteer
Kriestelle is a senior at SUNY New Paltz and is majoring in black studies and women and gender sexuality studies. She holds multiple positions on campus and is very active in various organizations. Her passions and skills have coincided with her drive to work in social justice. She believes in the justice of all oppressed and stands with those whose voices have been silenced.
Michele Chu
IHRAM Publishes Book Designer
Michele Chu is a seasoned, award-winning graphic designer. She was the Art Director of Monitor on Psychology, National Geographic Traveler and US News & World Report. She also has worked in newspapers at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Michele has won numerous awards from the Society of Publication Designers, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Art Directors Clubs of Los Angeles, New York and Metropolitan Washington as well as the Society of Newspaper Designers.