Bio
Taneshia Nash Laird is a seasoned community developer and leader with decades of experience in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors. Prior to her appointment as President and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall in November 2018, she served as Executive Director of the Arts Council of Princeton, notably as the first woman of color in this role. Taneshia has also served as Director of Economic Development & Acting Director of Housing Production for the City of Trenton (NJ), Regional Director of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director of the Trenton Downtown Association where she created the award-winning arts, culture, and tourism initiative Destination Trenton.
As an entrepreneur, Taneshia is the founder of Legacy Business Advisors, a consultancy serving social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and government agencies. She previously co-founded Legendary Eats in the Staples Center in Los Angeles with NBA legend James Worthy. With her late husband Roland, Taneshia also co-founded MIST Harlem, a popular entertainment center in New York City. Together they also co-authored the critically acclaimed book Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans.
A passionate advocate for the arts and heritage, Taneshia was a grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts during the Obama administration. She is on the boards of the Advocates for NJ History as well as Artpride NJ where she co-chairs the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. She was recently elected the president of the board of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation which was founded in 1995 by siblings Russell, Joseph "Rev Run" and Danny Simmons. Taneshia is the first Black woman to serve as the organization's president presiding over board members that include noted artist Kehinde Wiley, entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons, and television and film producer Stan Lathan, among others.
Video
NJTV News:
New director inspires enthusiasm for Symphony Hall's future
Appointment speech at the Arts Council of Princeton
Promoting women and economic development
Press
Just A Sample of Press Mentions
"Hitting a high note: New CEO aims to revitalize Newark Symphony Hall"
ROI-NJ - February 27, 2019
Newark Symphony Hall has a new CEO and president, its parent, Newark Performing Arts Corp., announced this week.
Taneshia Nash Laird joined the organization in November after a national search, succeeding interim Executive Director Leon Denmark, NPAC said in a news release.
“Today, a new curtain rises at Newark Symphony Hall,” Alfred Bundy, chairman of the NPAC board, said in a prepared statement. “Our board of directors is proud to announce that we have selected Taneshia Nash Laird as our new president and CEO of our historic arts organization. The members of our search committee recognize that we have chosen a bright and shining star for the Newark arts community.”
Laird was most recently the executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton — only the third executive director since 1967 and the first one of color. She has decades of leadership in the nonprofit, government and private sectors, NPAC said.
Read the entire story online here:
"Taneshia Nash Laird to black girls: It’s important I became leader of Princeton Arts Council"
The Trentonian Newspaper - April 2, 2017
Laird was one of about 10 panelists who spoke at the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls event. The seven-hour session was hosted by U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who became New Jersey’s first black woman elected to Congress in 2014.
Read the entire story online here: http://www.trentonian.com/20170401/taneshia-nash-laird-to-black-girls-its-important-i-became-leader-of-princeton-arts-council
"Arts Council of Princeton Names New Executive Director"
The Town Topics - November 26, 2016
Taneshia Nash Laird is the new executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton, replacing Jeff Nathanson who is stepping down after 11 years. Ms. Nash Laird was executive director of the Trenton Downtown Association and co-founded MIST Harlem, a cultural and entertainment center.
Read the entire story online here: http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/2016/11/23/acp-names-new-executive-director/
"New Director Named at Arts Council"
US 1 Newspaper - November 23, 2016
Nash Laird is best known for her tenure as executive director of the TDA from 2006 to 2011, where she promoted the arts and cultural tourism in the city. She was married to Trenton activist Roland Laird, who died in 2013.
She is also been involved in the arts in Princeton. In 2014 she founded the Baker Street Social Club, a group focused on the black community in Princeton. The club hosted cultural events, mainly at the Princeton Public Library, including a poetry reading by Danny Simmons, an author, painter, and co-creator of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.
Read the entire story online here: http://princetoninfo.com/index.php/component/us1more/?Itemid=&key=11-23-16laird&more=1&action=comment
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