PITTSBURGH, PA.- The August Wilson African American Cultural Center, the largest non-profit cultural organization in the country focused exclusively on the African American experience and the arts of the African diaspora, today announced the appointment Tracey McCants Lewis as AWAACC’s new Chair of the Board along with the election of four new trustees, Dr. Rahmon Hart, Tony Murphy, Shiv Seth, and Dr. James Taylor. The addition of the new trustees continues to grow the range of community advocates, philanthropists, and business leaders supporting the organization and its mission to offer programs and resources that advance August Wilson’s legacy, reflect the universal issues of identity that the playwright tackled, celebrate Black culture, and inspire future innovators in arts and culture.

Tracey McCants Lewis has served on AWAACC’s Board of Directors since 2015 and is the Deputy General Counsel and Director of Human Resources for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“The August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s Board of Directors are a dedicated, forward-thinking group of leaders, and Tracey is an incredible champion of the Center with a vision for and dedication to the Pittsburgh community that is immeasurable,” said AWAACC President and CEO Janis Burley Wilson. “I’m thrilled that Rahmon, Tony, Shiv, and James have joined our incredible leadership team, and I look forward to working with them and Tracey as we continue to expand our commitment to multi-disciplinary artists and champion August Wilson’s legacy.”

“The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a creative force that continuously celebrates diverse voices while also providing an important space for reflection and celebration. I am ecstatic to further my work with the Board of Directors, an array of inspiring leaders from across Pittsburgh, as we continue to support the Center’s work with groundbreaking artists, many who have been inspired and impacted by August Wilson’s work themselves,” said Tracey McCants Lewis.

Through the dedicated stewardship of its Board, AWAACC’s artistic, educational, and community initiatives have flourished under Burley Wilson’s leadership since 2017, establishing the Center as a leader in presenting programming that reflects the diversity of Pittsburgh and the nation. This fall, AWAACC will unveil August Wilson: A Writer’s Landscape, the first-ever exhibition dedicated to the life and works Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Spanning 3,6000 square feet, the multi-sensory exhibition will explore Pittsburgh, where Wilson was born and raised, and which had a profound impact on shaping his worldview and inspiring his unprecedented 10-play American Century Cycle.