Collaboraction Theater Company announced a new executive leadership team on YouTube today, a pivotal time for the organization as it launches a $1.5 million capital campaign and prepares to open its own theater space, a House of Belonging, at the Kimball Arts Center in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community.
Collaboraction’s new leadership team (from left): Darlene Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director; Beverly Dines, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director; and Anthony Moseley, Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director
Darlene Jackson, Collaboraction’s Board President since 2020, will join full-time as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. Jackson, most recently a Creative Industry Liaison at Columbia College Chicago, is a respected cultural programs producer, proven business leader and DEI expert. Also known internationally as DJ Lady D, she has been breaking glass ceilings for women in electronic music since she began DJing in Chicago’s house music scene more than two decades ago.
Beverly Dines, part-time Interim Managing Director since April 2024, has joined the company full-time as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Dines comes to Collaboraction after serving as Senior Director of Business Operations and People at Aeropay. She brings deep experience in corporate settings in operational management and budget management.
Anthony Moseley, one of the original founders of Collaboraction in 1996, and Artistic Director since 1999, will assume the role of Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director.
“As I approach my 25th season as Artistic Director, I am ecstatic to be joined by Darlene and Beverly as we manifest a new Collaboraction in our new home at the Kimball Arts Center,” said Moseley. “Darlene brings 20 years of experience as a community organizer, cultural programs producer, creative consultant, and, most recently, Board President of Collaboraction. Beverly brings over 10 years of progressive operational management, leadership experience and budget oversight. Darlene and Beverly are amazing fits and critical additions to our leadership team at this exciting moment as we prepare for our new space and capital campaign.”
Earlier this year, Collaboraction announced it is building a new home inside the Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave. in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community, right off the 606, where Chicagoans from across the city can come together to grow together.
Collaboraction’s new “House of Belonging” will feature a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with a cafe/bar. The 4,000-square foot space will be a community hub presenting live theater, spoken word, music, dance, films, workshops and special events.
Collaboraction’s new leadership team, outside their new home at the Kimball Arts Center (from left): Beverly Dines, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director; Darlene Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director; and Anthony Moseley, Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director.
Collaboraction is a 27-year-old, ethno-diverse non-profit arts organization dedicated to changing the map and removing barriers in the live theater industry. The company uses its proprietary KEDA methodology - Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue and Action - across all platforms, including live theater, film, radio and online interactive programs, to spark changes in attitudes and behavior that manifest social change.
"Today, arts organizations require a more thoughtful approach to organizational culture to thrive in the theatrical world," said new Executive Director Darlene Jackson. "My vision for Collaboraction is to inspire a fundamentally different theater landscape that prioritizes equity and brings exposure to the arts to underserved communities early and often to create more well-rounded youth and adult citizens through storytelling, workforce development and training, and connection."
“Collaboraction is more than just an arts organization, and with the opening of our House of Belonging, we are laying the groundwork for a new era,” said Beverly Dines, new COO of Collaboraction. “My vision for Collaboraction is to pioneer the standard for generating an arts and social activism ecosystem. Our new House of Belonging will be an intentional space for crucial conversations, original performances and community service initiatives for those of all backgrounds and identities.”
Press play for a first look at Collaboraction's plans for its new House of Belonging
Collaboraction’s new space will feature a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with a cafe/bar. The 4,000-square foot space will be a community hub presenting live theater, spoken word, music, dance, films, workshops and special events, produced by Collaboraction and with guest artists and companies. Both spaces will be equipped with HD multicam systems to stream live and recorded content worldwide. It also will be home to The Light, Collaboraction’s youth artist-activist program, and a lively new destination in Humboldt Park for youth events, open mics and workshops.
“We’ve been itinerant since leaving our former home in the Flat Iron in 2020 due to the pandemic,” said Moseley. “But by staying nimble, creating meaningful digital content and manifesting our mission of belonging, we’re still here. We look forward to opening a beautiful new gathering space to reunite with our audience, artists and Collaboractivists at Kimball Arts Center, where Humboldt Park meets Logan Square.”
To manifest its new home, Collaboraction has launched a $1.5 million House of Belonging capital campaign. The campaign began with a $200,000 CARP grant from the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and has since received support from individuals and organizations including Kerry James Marshall and Cheryl Lynn Bruce, AV Chicago, Henry Wishcamper, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Perkins Coie LLP, and Cordogan, Clark and Associates. To donate, visit collaboraction.org/our-new-house-of-belonging.
In addition, Collaboraction receives critical support from its growing ranks of Collaboractivists, individuals who support the company’s social change mission with a monthly contribution, starting at just $1. Sign up at collaboraction.org/memberships.
Collaboraction is currently awaiting final construction permits, and is targeting late fall/early winter for taking occupancy of and welcoming the public to its new venue. Stay tuned for more construction and programming updates in the coming weeks.
Collaboraction at Kimball Arts ground and space plans courtesy Cordogan, Clark & Associates.
Meet Collaboraction’s new leadership team
Darlene Jackson (Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, she/her/hers, LinkedIn, Instagram) is an accomplished Cultural Programs Producer with over 20 years of expertise in program management, public speaking, and community outreach. Known for her strategic leadership and commitment to social justice, Jackson excels in creating and implementing impactful cultural and educational programs that foster inclusivity and engagement. Most recently, Jackson drove DEI initiatives at Columbia College Chicago as a Creative Industry Liaison, where she enhanced student career opportunities through strategic internal and external partnerships and experiential programming. Her work markedly increased engagement among Black students and students of color, pioneering highly-recognized programs such as "Careering While Queering" and the Cultural Opportunities and Diversity Expo (CODE). Jackson's role extended to the professional staff union executive leadership, the student wellness steering committee, advising students on career advancement, and a part-time faculty position teaching Advanced Voice Over Acting and Club Deejaying 101.
Jackson's extensive background includes roles as a marketing copywriter/digital content writer at ISI Solutions, Inc., and as an Independent Communication Professional, where she has collaborated with high-profile clients, including DCASE, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Tribune and NPR. Her freelance work spans advertising, branding, and event planning, integrating DEI frameworks into every project.
Jackson is also one of the most well-loved and in-demand personalities in Chicago's music scene, having been at the forefront of Black women in electronic music since she began spinning in 1995. She was called "Chicago's House Music Queen" by Chicago Magazine and was named "Best House Music DJ" in the Chicago Reader in 2023. Jackson has performed house, techno, and disco sets at festivals such as Lollapalooza, ARC, Wanderlust, Noise Pop, SXSW, Burning Man, Chosen Few and more. Since 2004, she has owned and operated D'lectable, a premier dance music label and marketing group. In 2023, she was elected to the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy's Chicago Chapter, where she continues to engage in mentorship, outreach, and professional development for the music community.
Aside from her professional achievements, Jackson has also made significant contributions as the Board President of Collaboraction Theatre Company. In this role, she oversaw executive operations, strategic planning, and capacity building, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to equitable standards.
Jackson's academic background, including a Master's in Health Communication from Northwestern University, a Bachelor's in Biology from Millikin University, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from the University of South Florida, further supports her dedication to DEI.
Recognized with multiple awards, including Most Influential Lists by EDM.com and Mixmag Magazine and several academic DEI grants, Jackson has shared her insights on platforms such as Fox News Chicago, PBS and NPR. An engaging speaker and facilitator, she has led panels and presentations on topics ranging from house music history to professional branding.
Beverly Dines (Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, she/her/hers, LinkedIn, Instagram) has established herself as a formidable force in operational leadership, with a career spanning over a decade in higher education, healthcare, and most recently, financial technology. She has consistently driven growth and innovation across diverse industries, most recently as Senior Director of Business Operations and People at Aeropay.
Dines’s expertise has earned her recognition on prominent platforms, including as a featured panelist at 1871's Future of Canna Tech Summit in Chicago, the NACHA Smarter Faster Payments Conference in Miami, and the Financial Data Exchange (FDX) Global Summit in Dallas. She has also been honored as a Women in Payments Innovation Award Nominee. In 2024, she curated the first Payments Pulse event in collaboration with the Chicago Payments Forum with featured panelists from GoFundme, Walgreens, NACHA and Aeropay. She also served as the executive sponsor for Fintech Flight Deck, a podcast dedicated to showcasing innovative leadership in the fintech space.
Dines’s skills extend beyond the boardroom. Her passion for storytelling through art and theater has led to her recognition as an accomplished artist. She is a two-time Daytony award winner, a two-time nominee for the Irene Ryan Undergraduate Scholarship for Acting Excellence, and the first actor in University of Dayton Studio Theater history to win the prestigious Kitty Matt Award twice. This award, given by peers, celebrates her as a valued performer, collaborator and innovator. She is also deeply committed to service and community engagement. A proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, she made history as the youngest appointed member of her alumnae chapter's executive board in 2024. Dines holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.E) and a Master of Science (M.S.E) from the University of Dayton.
Anthony Moseley (Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director, he/him/his, LinkedIn, Instagram) joined Collaboraction in 1996 and has been Artistic Director since 1999, using theater as a tool of knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action for more than 25 years. Through this work, Moseley has commissioned and collaborated with thousands of artists to build a more equitable future for Chicago through projects including the two-time Emmy Award-winning The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Trial in the Delta, Collaboraction’s House of Belonging live event series, Sketchbook Festival, Peacebook, Encounter and The Light youth ensemble. As a writer/director he created Crime Scene: a Chicago Anthology and its sequels, This is Not a Cure For Cancer, Connected and A Blue Island in the Red Sea.
In addition to live performances, community building and video production, Moseley has led Collaboraction to center and present its work in historically overlooked Chicago neighborhoods like Englewood, Austin and Lawndale. As a result, Collaboraction’s awards include a Distinguished Service to the Arts Award, DCASE’s Foster Innovation Award, a Comcast/Ovation Stand for the Arts Award, an Otto Award for “ground-breaking political theater,” two Silver Gavel nominations and one Honorable Mention from the American Bar Association. In 2022, Collaboraction was one of the first theaters in the U.S. to be certified by On Our Team, a national trade organization advocating for pay equity and transparency in the live theater industry.
Moseley earned his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Notre Dame, and worked in sales for the Chicago Bulls before his quarter life crisis decision to become a Chicago theater artist.
About Collaboraction
Collaboraction is a 27-year-old, ethno-diverse non-profit arts organization that builds knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action around oppression and inequity through live theater, film, radio and online interactive programs.
Collaboraction is supported by AV Chicago, Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation, Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Paul M. Angell Foundation, Naperville Rotary Club, Field Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Illinois Arts Council.
To learn more, visit collaboraction.org, tune into Collaboraction Radio, live, every Saturday at 4 p.m. on WCPT-AM 820, subscribe to the Collaboraction Radio podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or follow Collaboraction on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X.