Meet Ahava Silkey-Jones

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ahava Silkey-Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ahava, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.

The most defining moments of my life have come from taking bold risks. One of the most significant risks I have taken recently was moving to Dallas for a career opportunity that deeply aligned with my personal and professional mission and vision. I have chased my dreams to new places before, but the timing and scope of this move was significantly more complicated. In the process of making this decision I found myself thinking back to lessons I derived from reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho growing up. Coelho says, “It’s the possibility of a dream coming true that makes life interesting.” He urges, “Don’t give in to your fears if you do, you won’t be able to listen to your heart.” In my story, taking risks has led me to spaces that have changed the trajectory of my life. I have expanded my view of what’s possible and connected with amazing people all around the globe by saying yes to the opportunities in front of me. I am grateful to be able to make an impact and inspire others while doing work I believe in. I keep these experiences in mind as I advise students who are making major life decisions. It’s important to weigh the risk and reward of every decision, but it’s also important to take a leap of faith sometimes, because there may be extraordinary opportunities waiting for you on the other side. I aim to live the life meant for me and I know that to achieve my goals, I must remain values driven, persevere through challenges, and take some daring (yet calculated) risks.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My career has always been driven by a desire to serve and create opportunities for others. I have worked at the intersection of arts and education for over fifteen years. I love working across sectors to bring innovative ideas to life and I am passionate about building partnerships. I began my career in Chicago where I fell in love with the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of students through the arts. I quickly realized that the dance studio and other artistic spaces we created in the school were the spaces where students felt like they could be their authentic selves. We worked hard, dreamed big, and accomplished extraordinary things together. I went on to pursue a career in arts education in Boston, Newark, Minneapolis, and now Dallas. Although every region is unique, high-quality arts programming is a universal need in all communities. I have learned a lot of lessons along the way, most importantly to stay focused on advocacy. As an arts leader, you often need to fight for visibility, funding, and a seat at the table, but it’s worth it to ensure that students have the opportunities they deserve. Even when the location and the people are new, my core values and goals are the same.

In Dallas, I have been fortunate to be able to expand the visibility and impact of the School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design at Dallas College by cultivating a strong and supportive network within the arts and business community locally. Participating in programs like DCEO Emerging Women’s Leadership Network, Engage Dallas, and the Business Council for the Arts Leadership Arts Institute have also been instrumental in connecting with likeminded leaders. I love being around others who share my passion and identifying students, artists, civic leaders, and business professionals who are excited to come together around a shared vision. Creating pathways for the next generation to thrive while supporting the development of a vibrant creative economy for the

region is where I see the most significant impact of my work. I hope to continue to cultivate relationships locally that can expand opportunities for our students and community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I am still getting to know Dallas, but I love showing visitors all the incredible spots that I discovered when I first moved here. I would start with Bishop Arts, just a short distance from where I live in North Oak Cliff. I love the artsy vibe, great food, and live music. We would grab a bite at Paradiso, enjoy drinks at Casablanca, shop as we walk around the neighborhood, and end with a sweet treat from Emporium Pies! From there, we would head to nearby Kidd Springs, and walk around the serene Japanese Garden or head downtown to Klyde Warren Park for some ice cream and playground time for the kids. If we get lucky, we may even catch a festival or performance in the park. In the evening, we would go to Crowne Block at the top of the Reunion Tower or Monarch for dinner with a great view, followed by a nightcap at Bourbon and Banter at The Statler.

The next day we would enjoy the sunrise over the city and then spend the day at The Dallas Arboretum. In the evening, we would head back downtown to the AT&T Discovery District to enjoy dinner at the Exchange, check out the latest digital exhibition in the AT&T lobby, and then catch live music, or a movie or game on the big screen. We would finish the day with a visit to SPACE at Adolphus Tower, a gallery featuring local artists and Dallas College student artists. It’s one of my favorite places in Dallas, born from a partnership with Hoque Global, Downtown Dallas Inc., FGIII Fine Art Productions, and Dallas College School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design. It has emerged as a thriving space for local artists and community to gather. If we have more time, I love taking visitors to the Nasher Sculpture Garden, the terrace at the JW Marriott, HALL Arts Hotel, the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Zoo, and on a hot day, Jade Waters at the Iconic Anatole is a must. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I owe so much of where I am today to the unwavering support of my family. They have been my foundation, teaching me the value of hard work, unconditional love and dreaming big.  Along the way, I have been fortunate to cultivate friendships that have also become like family. 

My shoutout today goes to one of those forever friends who has become like family, Michael Jones. A chance encounter on the South Side of Chicago over 20 years ago sparked a lifetime of collaboration, mentorship and friendship.  Our connection was special from the beginning, we shared a love for dance, the same birthday, and an optimistic zest for life.  Michael’s belief in me reignited my passion for working with young people. Without realizing it, he set me on the pathway to a deeply fulfilling career in arts education. Together, we co-founded The Professional Theatre and Dance Academy, an organization that provides Chicago public school students with access to high-quality arts programming. Thirteen years later, the organization continues to thrive. Despite living on opposite sides of the country, we still make an impact together, inspiring students to realize their full potential through the arts.  With Michael by my side, I am the most compassionate, driven, and authentic version of myself. His presence has a way of uplifting and inspiring everyone he meets.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahavasilkeyjones/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahavasilkeyjones/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silkey.ahava/