Meet the board
Darlene j. mcclinton
As a community leader in the Triad, Darlene J. McClinton wears several creative hats. Darlene is a muralist and international artist, an arts educator at NC A&T State University, former Creative Community Officer and Grants Program Manager at ArtsGreensboro, the C.E.O., and co-founder of The Artist Bloc L.L.C., and Founder of T.A.B. Arts Center Non-profit, Inc. She joined ArtsGreensboro to utilize her experience and expertise to help grow ArtsGreensboro grant programs to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She develops collaborations and community engagement through advocacy and public art that fosters research and strategic partnerships between communities and students.
Darlene is an "emerging star" in the state of North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree in Visual Arts & Design from NC A&T University and a Master of Fine Arts from Howard University. Darlene's works are designed to bridge G.A.P.'s through education, reminding and influencing generations to understand the past, present, and future. Darlene is best known for her leadership, vision, and philanthropy.
CARA WALTON
Cara Walton is a singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and Founder of Out Loud Productions GSO. She began producing music for herself and other local artists in the triad at the age of sixteen and has acquired merits such as, 102 Jamz local artist spotlight and Triad Idol Finalist. Her humble beginnings and love for creativity, inspired her to create a platform for the humble talent in her community, where they could express themselves unapologetically with out the burden of limited resources. Cara earned her bachelors degree in Business Administration in 2022 and enjoys team building, facilitating, mentoring and advocating for local artists. Her and co-founder Sirrell Butler currently lead a team of 8 volunteers that serve OLP-GSO’s mission to provide and raise resources for upcoming creatives.
WATRICIA SHULER
Watricia Shuler is an educator, creative, and third-generation entrepreneur. Guided from an early age, her initial business ventures included running a concession stand during her father’s basketball games to selling candy in high school and airbrushed t-shirts in college. That knowledge and experience fully manifested in 2014 when she co-founded The Artist Bloc, an event venue located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Since its inception, Watricia has served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Within those positions her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business, providing training and support to staff, and overseeing the finances.
Additionally, since 2011, Watricia has served as a professor and mentor to students and members of the community alike. During this time, she has facilitated courses, trainings, seminars, and workshops. Conversely, Shuler has developed programs through partnerships with organizations in Guilford County. Each program required the creation of a proposal containing curriculums, lesson plans, and budgets. A natural creative, Watricia is proficient in video production, content creation and graphic design. She uses her artistic talents to aid in creating materials for her business as well as others. Furthermore, she approaches entrepreneurship as a ‘creative endeavor’, allowing innovation and experimentation to guide her journey in business.
Watricia holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Production from North Carolina A&T State University and a Masters of Fine Arts in Film from Howard University.
Sirrell James
Sirrell James is the Co-Founder and Operations Manager for the OLP-GSO organization. Since 2014 she has been honored to collaborate with other community organizations, leaders, and volunteers to work toward cultivating change for community members representing the arts within the community she once grew up in.
Being in the Operations Manager role has helped Sirrell to stretch her professional and personal leadership skills within the nonprofit sector. In this position her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overseeing day of operations for programs hosted by the organization and problems solving ways to increase efficiency of programs for volunteers and guests. She too provides onsite training to volunteers along with assisting Creative Associate in planning themes and budgets for supplies for programs.
Outside of OLP-GSO Sirrell works in behavioral health. In studying human behavior, she values the positive influence that the arts have had on the human experience historically. The arts have also been an ongoing outlet of expression for herself and finds it inevitable to merge the two worlds respectfully. Sirrell helped founded OLP- GSO organization to help bridge the gap in connecting artists to more educational tools to support personal growth. In addition to connecting to appropriate resources to aid in both communal and individual healing within their community.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Also going to concerts, traveling, writing, watching sports and playing guitar when she can. Sirrell has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and History from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Social Work from North Carolina A&T State University.