Introducing Two New Board Members: Mariah Gayheart & Stephanie McDaniel

Volunteering and giving back to the community through acts of service is priceless. Volunteering in a leadership capacity on a board for an organization takes commitment, dedication, and passion. Mariah Gayheart (she/her/hers) and Stephanie McDaniel (they/them/their) are committed, dedicated, and passionate about the positive impact Celebrate the Beat is making throughout Colorado and have joined the Board of Directors to bring their unique skills and expertise to the twenty-year old nonprofit organization.

Both Mariah and Stephanie are recent graduates of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) Leadership Program. During the nine-month program, they took classes on Principles of Effective Governance, Fundraising Strategies, Advocacy for the Arts and Creative Industries, Equity and Inclusion, Nonprofit Financial Stewardship, Arts & Social Justice, Arts & Healing, and Business and Arts Partnerships. They learned all about nonprofit board service and connecting with other professionals from all backgrounds. The leadership program taught them how to be more effective arts advocates and leverage business skills they already possess in new ways. While they feel lucky to have found Celebrate the Beat, Celebrate the Beat is lucky to have been found by them.

Mariah Gayheart is a Senior BU Risk & Controls Analyst and the Volunteer Council Coordinator at TIAA. She attended Ohio University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, and a minor in Business. She has a deep love and passion for dance and the arts and upon learning about Celebrate the Beat (CTB), knew she wanted to get involved. After watching The Beat Never Stops, Celebrate the Beat’s 2020 Virtual Fundraiser, she was blown away by the positive, upbeat energy that was maintained throughout the 30-minute program and by the positive impact CTB is making in children’s lives through education and dance. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, all CTB programming has transitioned to virtual programming and classes. Mariah attended a live Zoom class with first graders at Wilder Elementary and was immediately impressed with how interested and focused the children were via Zoom. Mariah said, “They were focused and excited the entire time and picked up the movement very quickly. It was amazing how involved the boys were too.” Mariah is aware of the challenges of bridging the digital divide in education and is working to continue to find solutions in the Denver community. When asked what Mariah would like to see more of in the world, she answered, “people coming together rather than dividing and more people seeking opportunities to get out of their comfort zones and finding their passions.” She also stated, “Giving back brings so much joy, and I hope others step up to find those opportunities and experience that same feeling! There’s nothing like it!”

Stephanie McDaniel is an Independent Curator and Creative Entrepreneurship Coach. Stephanie received their MA in Gallery & Museum Management with an Exhibit Specialization from Western Colorado University and their BA in Studio Art with a minor in Curatorial Studies from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. The moment Stephanie found CTB, they were overwhelmed by the positive impact. Stephanie grew up with experiential learning and really understands the importance of it in providing children with an outlet to be creative and build self confidence. “CTB provides the unique opportunity for children to experience their own gifts and unique qualities. CTB has the power to engage life-long learners and create problem-solvers and well-rounded, creative people,” stated Stephanie. They also shared they’ve observed children who haven’t had the opportunity to find self confidence that are already dealing with real life situations at surprisingly young ages and believe these children could be finding more success if given the opportunity to engage in the arts at an early age. “Art is the entry to the self and the world,” shared Stephanie. Stephanie believes the arts can transform the trajectory and change a life because of the feeling of value and confidence the arts bring. When asked what they would like to see more of in the world, they answered inclusivity, truly diverse arts communities/ecosystems that are sustainable, and more solving of problems through passion, inspiration, and diversity. Locally, they would like to see the knowledge of resources in Denver grow. 

Both new members have been eager to step up in a leadership role on CTB’s programs and development committees. Stephanie is serving as co-chair for the programs committee; Mariah is co-chair for the development committee. As an active member of McKinley-Thatcher Elementary School’s PTA, Stephanie has already helped introduce CTB to their children’s school. Celebrate the Beat is so excited to continue working and growing with both Stephanie and Mariah. The potential is endless with these two skilled, passionate professionals on their board.

If you’d like more information on how you can join Celebrate the Beat’s board of directors, please contact Mikayla Houser at mikayla@ctbeat.org.