Our Last Black to Black Series of 2026: History & Fundamentals of Black Organizations

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RSVP - FREE ADMISSION

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Hear about "The Naissance, The Now + Near, and The Next" from the leaders who lived it and those who emerged from it. 📅 Saturday, October 10 | 1:00–3:00 PM 📍 Arts Incubator, 301 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago 🎟️ FREE! - RSVP required

Before BACA, there was the Black Theatre Alliance — founded in 1977 by a group of Chicago artists with one purpose: to bring exposure and visibility to Black creatives whose skills and talent the industry consistently overlooked. That mission carried into the 1997 founding of the African American Arts Alliance, which became BACA. This Black to Black Series installment brings that legacy full circle. Moderated by E. Faye Butler, join founders, elders, and leaders, including Ron OJ Parson, Chuck Smith, Enneressa Lanette, and Makafui Searcy, Founder Director of Fourtunehouse Art Center, for a conversation on the birth, growth, and future of Chicago's Black arts organizations. We'll honor the 40+ organizations across our Alliance, open the floor for Q&A, and send you off with trivia, treats, and a few surprises.

Space is limited. RSVP today.

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This event is supported by Arts + Public Life through the Community Cultural Arts Partnership program.

Our Shared Mission

The Black Arts and Culture Alliance of Chicago (BACA) is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting Black arts and culture. This event is a call to all arts organizations: bring your information, marketing materials, and your spirit as we build a stronger network for our city's creative future.

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XLFest '26 Chicago: From Midwest to MidBEST in Film, Culture, and Creativity

“There’s a great energy that we bring into the world, and a lot begins here... and ripples out to the rest of the world.” Spoken this past Saturday at Chicago’s XL Film Festival, these words, from the Grammy award-winning poet and artist J. Ivy, perfectly encapsulate why the festival exists and why it deserves more eyes and ears.

Founded by, funded by, and made entirely for artists, XL Fest defines itself as the “Midwest premier celebration of film, culture, and creativity.” With that definition in mind, I had only a very general idea of what to expect when I attended the third day of the festival this past Saturday: well-established artists, perhaps a number of burgeoning influencers, various media outlets. However, I wasn’t expecting the number of young people who showed up, kids as young as 12 with their own stories to tell, or the number of entrepreneurs looking to support so much up-and-coming talent.

You see a lot of love for artists and their work all the time in LA or New York, but XL Fest serves as a reminder that so much talent and creativity is to be nurtured and celebrated right here in Chicago. The creative initiatives of black and brown artists that were showcased at this year’s 4th annual XL Fest is only a fraction of the art being made here, and, as Karyn Parson’s animated series about unsung black heroes reminded me, it’s often the talent and innovation you don’t see that end up shaping the world.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/672388_eb34ff3b733a472ba4b0e4d4e449e8f7/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

BLACK ARTS & CULTURE ALLIANCE OF CHICAGO (BACA) ANNOUNCES DOC WHEELER AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Chicago, IL — The Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago (BACA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Darion "Doc" Wheeler as Executive Director. Previously serving as BACA’s PR, Media, Marketing, and Design Director, Wheeler took the Executive Chair on February 2, 2026.

"Stepping into this role is about honoring a legacy while building what's next,” said Wheeler. “Chicago's Black arts community has always been a force—from storefronts to stages, from emerging voices to icons—but for too long, we've operated without a unified home base. BACA is that home. We're not just celebrating Black excellence; we're creating the infrastructure for it to grow, connect, and sustain itself.”

Wheeler continued, “This year, you'll see us deepening that work through our Town Halls,

Summer Cookouts, expanding the newly named Chicago Black Excellence Awards, and

strengthening our digital presence through automation and ancestral intelligence. We're making sure every arts organization—whether you've been in Chicago for 50 years or 5 months—has the visibility, resources, and community needed to thrive. My ultimate goal is to grow nationwide and establish chapters in major regions in the U.S. and abroad, with Chicago being the epicenter."

Wheeler succeeds Luther Goins, who will continue to support the organization as a

Management Consultant.

Goins states, “Doc is full of energy, creativity, determination, and focus. Aside from his design,

marketing, and PR experience, he spent many years in the corporate world, and he is quite

savvy when it comes to fundraising and creating fundraising strategies. His love for Chicago's

Black Arts Communities is unchallenged. I look forward to continuing the work of BACA as a

consultant to support the important work of the organization. We are lucky to have Doc as the

new Executive Director.”

Darion "Doc" Wheeler is the founder of Mediacovenant LLC, where they specialize in

graphic/web design and digital product strategy. His career spans roles from Art Director at a

leading advertising agency to UX designer in health and retail to product manager in fintech and agriculture, successfully leading off-shore and near-shore teams delivering enterprise-scale solutions. A Detroit native and alumnus of the Illinois Institute of Design, Doc has collaborated with Chicago's premier advertising agencies and designed for the city's most prestigious theaters. His work bridges traditional design craftsmanship with emerging technology to amplify creative voices without compromising their authenticity. 

At BACA, Doc leads efforts to centralize and strengthen Chicago's Black arts ecosystem

through strategic digital infrastructure, governance innovation, and community engagement.

Whether through product strategy, organizational leadership, or mentorship, he remains

committed to building platforms where Black art and culture can unapologetically flourish.