The AFA is proud to announce our new Community Connectors!
The last intake of applications saw a number of qualified and passionate art community members nominated to represent their cultural, regional, or disability community. The AFA appreciates all applicants that submitted proposals and acknowledges the work artists invested in developing project plans.
Cecilia Alcaraz (Calgary), and Robert & Jessica Tyndale will join Danielle George and Hanna Fridhed in bridging the gap between the AFA and their respective communities.
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Cecilia Alcaraz | Robert & Jessica Tyndale | Danielle George | Hanna Fridhed |
About the Connectors
Cecilia Alcaraz
Cecilia Alcaraz, also known by her writer pseudonym, Cecilia Ortiz Luna, is an emerging (and late blooming) writer, community organizer, educator, and art impresario in Calgary. She plays either a leadership or active member role in various artist groups in Calgary’s Filipino, BIPOC and writer communities.
As an Executive Director of Salingpusa Creatives, a Filipino arts and culture non-profit organization, she leads her team in organizing art exhibits, artist festivals, roundtables and micro art events that seek to reconnect members of the Filipino diasporic community to their ancestral heritage. A kinetic presence in the BIPOC arts community, she holds a monthly Diverse Voices Roundtable for Alexandra Writers Centre and has recently staged Eight Voices: Eight Writers from Eight Ethnicities Reading Eight Minutes of Their Poetry/Prose.
In her personal art making, she writes flash fiction, short stories and poetry but is primarily a novelist. Her novel Blood Compact, a stylistic retelling of Philippine colonial history, was a finalist in both the 2025 Jim Wong Chu Emerging Writer Award and the 2025 Crime Writers Canada Unpublished Manuscript Award. The writing endeavor that gives her the most joy has been teaching the craft of fiction to baby writers (ages 11 to 18) at YouthWrite Summer Camp in Bragg Creek, AB.
When not in the throes of organizing or writing, she could be found reading the latest Tana French and Kevin Wilson novels, walking a rescue Samoyed dog named Yuzu, and playing Boggle with her husband and grown-up kids. She is still trying to master the art of parallel parking and has negative opinions about AI.
Cecilia Alcaraz is a passionate advocate and community builder with deep connections to Calgary's Filipino and BIPOC arts communities.
Robert and Jessica Tyndale
bobby.t
Robert "bobby.t" Tyndale is a digital marketer and storyteller with a deep-seated belief in the power of narratives to connect and inspire. At the helm of Version Me Media, he specializes in creating resonant content for diverse audiences, extending his passion through his YouTube channel and podcast. Beyond his creative endeavours, Robert contributes significantly to the Black Canadian community through his roles on the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) and the Jamaican Association of Northern Alberta (JANA) boards. His latest venture, Record in Colour, encapsulates his mission to empower creators of colour, fostering a digital space where their stories can flourish and connect.
Seeka
Jessica “Seeka” Tyndale is a Canadian children’s music artist, educator, and producer developing joyful, inclusive content for preschool and family audiences. Through her live show, Seeka Sings, and her debut TV series, Seeka’s Skyway, Seeka champions early education, social-emotional learning, and diversity. With 20 years’ experience as a performer, four award-nominated children’s albums, and 10 years’ experience as an educator, Seeka brings a unique, engaging, and curriculum-informed approach to children’s content.
As Edmonton-based creatives, Robert and Jessica are deeply rooted in Alberta's Black and racialized arts communities
Danielle George
Danielle M. George, born to Caribbean parents from Trinidad and Tobago, was raised in Edmonton within a vibrant Caribbean community. Her father, Cecil T. George, played a pivotal role in the Cariwest Festival and founded the Trincan Steel Orchestra, sparking Danielle's lifelong passion for the steel pan. Starting at just 7 years old, she learned to play the steel pan under his guidance. Nearly three decades later, Danielle leads Trincan Steel Orchestra as its president, continuing her father’s legacy and expanding the presence of Caribbean culture in Alberta.
Beyond her musical talents, Danielle is a dynamic community leader. She hosts the "All Things Pan" podcast on Instagram Live, where she discusses Caribbean culture and the art of steel pan music. Danielle’s performances, which have graced various events including dignitary functions and weddings, serve to celebrate and share the joy of Caribbean culture across Alberta. Her work with Trinican Steel Orchestra helps to keep the Caribbean musical traditions alive and thriving in the province.
As one of the inaugural Community Connectors, Danielle used her broad network and cultural expertise to connect Alberta’s diverse communities to the resources and opportunities provided by the AFA. Through her role, Danielle will continue to focus on raising awareness of the AFA’s initiatives, engaging underrepresented communities, and fostering collaboration and creative growth in Alberta.
Hanna Fridhed
Hanna Fridhed is a theatre and literary artist from Sweden who now lives and creates in Wood Buffalo, located in Treaty 8. She is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the non-profit theatre company Swamp Rat Experience, with which she has spearheaded several noteworthy productions, including RENT The Musical, and Doubt, A Parable.
Hanna has a deep connection to her community and the arts scene in the Wood Buffalo region, where she has cultivated relationships through her work in various creative and leadership roles. With a background in art education, Hanna has made significant strides in bridging the gap between the arts and local communities, emphasizing the importance of multicultural representation and inclusion in her work.
Hanna is committed to supporting artists from diverse backgrounds and providing a platform for underrepresented voices. As a Community Connector, she will leverage her networks and experience to help connect artists to AFA resources, encourage collaboration, and increase the visibility of diverse arts practices. Her dedication to fostering inclusive arts communities makes her an invaluable member of the program.
About the Community Connectors program
The AFA Community Connector program is a grassroots initiative that partners with trusted leaders within Alberta's various communities to build relationships and increase engagement with artists across Alberta. The program is designed to bridge the gap between often underrepresented cultural, regional, and Deaf and disability arts communities where awareness of AFA resources may be limited.
By leveraging the networks of these Connectors, the program works to remove barriers by facilitating direct connections between artists and the AFA, providing clear guidance on the funding process, and fostering a sense of belonging. By creating more equitable access to its resources, the program directly supports the AFA's mission of fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts sector that reflects the full mosaic Alberta's arts community.