Jaleria Lisonia Rivera
Born in Cherry Point, NC, U.S.
Resides in Knoxville, TN, U.S.
Contact
General@spacecraftknox.com
Instagram @ jaleria.rivera
Spacecraftknox.com
Jaleria.com
Profile
A multi-hyphenated storyteller, who incites meaningful change through creative and purpose-driven design. With a B.A. in Communications and Creative Writing, plus a near decade of experience in Sales Marketing and Creative Strategy, Jaleria pushes convention through art practices such as Transnational Fusion Belly Dance, ceramic wearable art, and co-leading grassroots art advocacy organizations.
Education
B.A. Communications & Creative Writing, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2024
The Next Economy MBA, Lift Economy
2023
Business Design, d.MBA
Workshops & Intensives
2024
The 8 Elements, Phase 2 Cultivation, Rachel Brice, Portland, OR
2023
Rasa Vil Jewelry, Headpiece Embroidery
Born to Whine, Royal Gale
Symbol Dance, Kristy Exo
2022
Ceramics Residency, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN
The 8 Elements, Phase 1 Initiation, Rachel Brice, Portland, OR
Professional Experience
2023
Council Member, Mayor’s Maker Council, Maker City, Knoxville, TN
Member, Knox Community Street Dance, Knoxville, TN | Street dance collective that celebrates black joy and culture
Ambassador, Cattywampus Puppet Council, Big Ears Music Festival, Knoxville, TN
2022
Multi-Location Sales Planner, Yelp, Remote
Administrative Member, Open Arts Knoxville, Knoxville, TN | Grassroots arts advocacy coalition
Leadership Chair, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Neighborhood events center
Programs & Activities Director, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Neighborhood events center
Founder, SpaceCraft, Knoxville, TN | Art Studio Cooperative
2021
Associate Multi-Location Sales Planner, Yelp, Remote
2020
Account Executive, Comcast (Effectv), Chattanooga, TN, USA
2019
Associate Account Executive, Comcast (Effectv), Chattanooga, TN, USA
Selected Commissions
2023
Bone, Hugs & Harmony, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Executive Producer
Bailey Grant Recipients Showcase, Emporium, Knoxville, TN | Dancer
Collective Effervescence: Decolonizing Black Imagination, Ironwood Studios, Knoxville, TN | Executive Producer
Rhinestone Fest, Knoxville, TN | Emcee
Vibe: Textile Thread Color, Lilienthal Gallery, Knoxville, TN | Dancer
Performance, In the Next Room by Sarah Ruhl, River & Rail Theatre Company, Knoxville, TN | Assistant Director
2022
Performance, PASS OVER by Antoinette Nwandu, River & Rail Theatre Company, Knoxville, TN | Stagehand
Selected Productions
2023
Raising & Rising Company Showcase, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Knoxville, TN | Pitch
Grassroots Artist Fair, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Open Arts Knoxville
Pride Jam: Celebrating Black Queer Culture, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN | Produced by SpaceCraft, Knox Community Street Dance, and Sadie Pearl Records
Our Common Nature: An Appalachian Celebration with Yo-Yo Ma & Friends, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Cattywampus Puppet Council
Deciphering the Cypher, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN |Produced by SpaceCraft, Knox Community Street Dance, and Sadie Pearl Records
Knoxville Artists for the Tennessee Three, Pretentious Beer, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Free Women Waltzing Club
Sadie Pearl Records: Record Store Day Celebration, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN | Produced by SpaceCraft, Knox Community Street Dance, and Sadie Pearl Records
Exhibition, Resist Repair Reclaim, Mighty Mud, Knoxville, TN | Produced by The Bottom
2022
Listening Space, Pretentious Beer, Knoxville, TN | Hosted by SpaceCraft and Free Women Waltzing Club
Emerging Artists’ Talk & Exhibition, Playful Practice, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Open Arts Knoxville
Selected Publications
2023
Canvas Rebel, Meet Jaleria Rivera
Knox News, Knoxville Mayor’s Maker Council welcomes four new artists
Big Ideas Welcome, Jaleria Rivera's Big Idea: Collective Imagination Has The Power To Transform Reality
CleanEnergy.org, Driving on Sunshine: Visiting ‘The Bottom’ Bookstore to Get Ready for Pride
Knox News, Black women empower each other through entrepreneurship in Knoxville's Crown Pitch Contest
ABC WVLT Channel 8, Rhinestone Fest returns to Knoxville
Inside of Knoxville, Rhinestone Fest 2023 sparkles up the Old City
Inside of Knoxville, A Weekend in the City
Teknovation, Creating a community space for Knoxville artists
Let Her Speak, The Found project
Knox News, Missed Big Ears Festival? See downtown’s most memorable moments
Knox News, KEC's 2023 What's the Big Idea Pitch competition
WBIR, What's the Big Idea? Public voting almost over
2022
Knox News, Open Arts Knoxville: ‘low-stakes,’ supportive and welcoming
Knox News, Open Arts Knox hosts first meeting inside The Birdhouse
Awards
2024
Arrowmont, Windgate Fellowship, Pattern Play, Jen Hewett, Gatlinburg, TN
2023
Let Her Lead Aspiring Leader, Let Her Speak, Knoxville, TN
The Crown Pitch Competition, The Women & Shora Foundation, Knoxville, TN | Shortlist
Individual Bailey Grant, Arts & Culture Alliance, Knoxville, TN
What’s the Big Idea? Pitch Competition, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Knoxville, TN | Shortlist