ConTextos is delighted to announce the appointment of Kali Rose and Kalief Dinkins as Co-Directors of ConTextos Chicago.
This leadership structure reflects ConTextos’ continued commitment to collaborative, relationship-centered, and distributive models of leadership rooted in shared stewardship, community accountability, institutional sustainability, and collective care. As ConTextos continues evolving organizationally across sites and functions, we remain committed to building leadership structures that strengthen continuity, deepen operational resilience, and cultivate long-term pathways for organizational stewardship and growth.
The Co-Director structure also reflects ConTextos’ broader organizational commitment to strengthening shared leadership, preserving institutional knowledge, and ensuring that organizational stewardship, operational leadership, community relationships, and mission advancement are not concentrated within a single role alone, but rather cultivated collectively and sustainably across leadership teams over time. This leadership structure emerged through an extended period of organizational reflection, operational assessment, and leadership discernment regarding the evolving needs of ConTextos Chicago during its current phase of growth and institutional strengthening.
As Co-Directors, Kali and Kalief will jointly support the continued strengthening of ConTextos Chicago’s programming, partnerships, operations, communications, and community presence during an important phase of organizational growth and evolution. Within the Co-Director structure, Kali and Kalief will steward complementary areas of organizational leadership across programming, operations, partnerships, communications, community engagement, and mission advancement. Kali will primarily support operational leadership, internal coordination, and program implementation, while Kalief will primarily support partnerships, communications, public engagement, and mission advancement efforts across the Chicago site.
We are deeply excited for this next chapter of leadership at ConTextos Chicago and grateful for the care, vision, integrity, and humanity Kali and Kalief continue bringing to this work and community every day.
“Over the years, both Kali and Kalief have helped shape the heart of ConTextos Chicago through storytelling, arts practice, facilitation, partnership-building, and deep community engagement. Their leadership emerges not only from professional expertise, but also from lived experience, creativity, trust-building, and longstanding investment in the communities and relationships that sustain this work.”— Dr. Cecilia Cardesa, ConTextos CEO
About ConTextos
At ConTextos we work with texts — words and stories — Through trauma-informed and healing-centered programs that integrate reading, writing, dialogue, and creative expression. We create spaces where individuals and communities can strengthen connection, cultivate reflection, and develop the social and emotional skills needed to thrive. We also work in context — with awareness of the stories, cultures, and lived experiences that shape every person and every community we serve. Rather than confronting conflict, we engage with it. Through active listening and collaboration, we co-create safe, supportive spaces where resilience can take root. Working across El Salvador, Chicago, and beyond, we partner with communities to ensure all voices are valued, and stories become catalysts for learning, belonging, and social change. Every story shared, every book opened, and every safe space created is possible because of people like you. Together we can build communities rooted in empathy, justice, and possibility.
Learn more at www.contextos.org
About Kalief Dinkins
Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Kalief is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist and community leader who uses the power of storytelling and visual art to create access to creative expression. His work transforms lived experience into public art, workshops, and community-centered collaborations that amplify marginalized voices and foster connection.
For over a decade, he has leveraged art as a tool for healing, dialogue, and social impact through arts programming and partnership-building across Chicago. Drawing from both his creative practice and background in advertising, Kalief approaches storytelling as both an artistic and community-building tool. His journey with ConTextos began as a teaching artist and alum of the Ways to Tell program; he now serves as Co-Director, leading and expanding healing-centered arts programming rooted in people and the stories that connect communities across Chicago.
Through his leadership, Kalief is building what he always needed: spaces where young people and communities feel seen, heard, and experience joy.
About Kali Rose
Kali is an artist, coach, storyteller, and creative strategist who uses creativity as a tool of connection, healing, and possibility. She believes stories have the power to introduce inspiration, authenticity, and impact. Kali has built a career rooted in artistry, service, mentorship, self-expression, empowerment, and collectiveness.
Her journey with ConTextos began as a participant in Into A Black Beyond 2.0 and has evolved into her leadership role as Co-Director. She will continue to help shape and strengthen our healing-centered arts programming and draw from her experience as an educator, creative, and leader.
Kali is passionate about creating spaces where people feel empowered to tell their stories, build meaningful connections, experience joy, growth, and belonging. Her skill set and mind aren’t the only things that function very well. The amount of care she gives and shows for people she crosses paths which allows it to be an endless lasting connection built. Kali’s love for the work in itself allows her to bring her best foot forward.