Who We Are

Chicago Artopia is a collective of artists, educators, and arts advocates dedicated to enriching the Southwest Side of Chicago through vibrant cultural events and creative experiences. We bring people together through the arts, fostering connection, celebrating diversity, and inspiring a deeper appreciation for the cultures, stories, and voices that make our community unique.

Meet our Team

  • President & Co-Founder​

    Violeta, a native of Chicago, is a dedicated advocate for art, education, and community engagement. With a strong background in radio and a Bachelor's degree in Radio Talent and Production from Columbia College, she began her career by interning at WLS ABC 7 and working with Telemundo and Univision Radio Chicago. In addition to her radio work, she has contributed her talents to several short film projects. Violeta earned a Master's degree in Education from Quincy University and spent seven years teaching K-2 grades in the Chicago Public Schools system.

    After a brief period living on the East Coast to start a family, Violeta returned to her Chicago roots. She temporarily served in a role focused on promoting art within the community. Violeta helped organize a holiday art walk and assisted in bringing a few murals to the community, including one in the Garfield Ridge area (painted by artist Milton Coronado), a second one at 59th and Central Park (created by James Jankowiak), and a third mural at Peck Elementary (titled 'Birds in our Backyard,' which she worked on with her husband and the amazing parents/family at Peck Elementary). These murals were created with the leadership of important community members. Violeta lives on the southwest side with her family, which includes her husband, kids, and dogs. She envisions a future where her community, including her own children and niece, can enjoy cultural events within their own neighborhood—something she personally did not have while growing up on the southwest side of Chicago.

  • Co-Founder & Artistic Director

    Born and raised in Hanoi Vietnam, An Tran and his family have made the Chicago Southwest side community their home. His musical journey began at the age of seven at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi, Vietnam. He received his Bachelor of Arts from North Park University, a Master of Music from Yale University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Northwestern University. As a Naxos recording artist and a touring artist himself, An knows the impact of live performances and is committed to bringing world-class performances to his community.

    An Tran is a guitar professor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University, and Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he established the NIU International Guitar Concert Series. An also serves as a board member of the Chicago Classical Guitar Society.

  • Co-Founder​ & Board Member

    Born and raised in Chicago, Lucina is a dedicated member of the community, specifically her native southwest side. She has developed a profound commitment towards community empowerment and engagement.

    She has a Bachelor's degree in Radio Talent and Production from Columbia College and has interned with WFMT and Chicago Public Radio. At Chicago Public Radio she produced content for the Sonic ID initiative where her focus was capturing the unique sounds within the various communities in the Southwest side. This experience fueled her love for preserving the essence of these neighborhoods. Lucina pursued a career in production with Univision Radio and later earned a Master's degree in Education.

    Currently a dedicated teacher in the Chicago Public Schools system, she strives to provide cultural experiences to Southwest side families. Lucina believes in the transformative and healing power of the arts, bringing people together, fostering community, inspiring others, and evoking wonder.

  • Board Member

    A lifelong career in finance, Nga has an extensive experience in analytics and accounting for the last 14 years. She is passionate about healthcare, community engagement, and advocacy for the underserved community. She previously worked for Lutheran Volunteer Corp, spending 1 year in Chicago as a full time volunteer, working in fighting homelessness, poverty, and promoting community inclusion. That led her to coming back and making Chicago her permanent home after completing her MBA degree at Purdue University. She got her Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Wartburg College. She currently serves as Treasurer for Chicago Artopia and Advisory Committee member for ATI Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides support for children with physical impairments.

  • Social Media Director & Board Member

    Classical guitarist, Nanae Fujiwara was born in Japan and grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. She teaches students of all ages in the greater Chicago area including Harper College, Adler Arts Center and The Music Room, as well as to online students around the world. Fujiwara’s academic achievements include an Associates in Fine Arts in Music from Harper College, a Bachelors in Music from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Masters in Interpretation of Classical Guitar from the University of Alicante (Spain). She currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Chicago Classical Guitar Society.

  • Board Member

    Simeon Bogdanov holds a B.Sc. from Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau (France) and an M.Sc. from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Sweden). He successfully completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With a focus on semiconductor physics, nanoscale technologies, and quantum photonics, he actively pursues research in these areas.

    Apart from his academic pursuits, Simeon's appreciation and support for the arts stem from his personal passion for music. During his down time, Simeon enjoys playing the piano.

  • Graphic Designer

    Lidia is a dedicated graphic designer boasting over 15 years of experience in the Chicagoland area. Growing up on the South and Southwest sides of Chicago, Lidia discovered her love for the arts during her time at Curie High School. She further pursued her artistic interests at DePaul University, where she earned a bachelor's degree with a concentration in Graphic Design.

    Throughout her career, Lidia has had the privilege of contributing her design skills to a variety of institutions, including Argonne National Laboratory, esteemed architecture firms such as Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, United Airlines, and Hyatt Hotels. Currently, she finds fulfillment as a freelance graphic designer for Chicago Public Schools, where she collaborates on diverse projects ranging from highway billboards to social media graphics.

    Outside of work, Lidia enjoys simple pleasures that inspire her creativity. She loves going on road trips to discover new places, exploring local and national parks, and browsing antique shops in search of hidden gems. With a keen interest in art and design, she also enjoys collecting unique pieces that resonate with her aesthetic sensibilities. Additionally, Lidia values opportunities to attend science-related events, embracing her curiosity and love for learning. On relaxing days, you will find her spending quality time at home with her cherished French bulldog, Hugo, at her side.

  • Board Member

    Born and raised in Chicago, Paloma has spent her career working for non-profit public media institutions. With a passion for audio and a deep admiration for PRX, Paloma embarked on her journey with the organization in 2016, starting as the Distribution Manager. Today, she is the Senior Director of Distribution, leading a dedicated team in broadcast and podcast distribution.

    In her role, Paloma orchestrates the onboarding, training, and support for both producers and stations, ensuring they thrive on PRX's cutting-edge platforms, PRX Dovetail (podcast distribution platform) and PRX Exchange (broadcast distribution platform). She has meticulously overseen over 200 podcast migrations to PRX Dovetail, featuring celebrated shows such as The Moth, Radiotopia, TED Talks Daily, Latino USA, and Snap Judgment. Her career trajectory has mirrored the ascent of Dovetail, underpinned by her unwavering belief in the power of relationship building, dedication to providing stellar support, and tireless pursuit of operational efficiencies.

    Before her PRX journey, Paloma spent two years as the Production and Syndication Manager at the WFMT 98.7 and Radio Network. She orchestrated the seamless migration of WFMT's content portfolio and affiliate stations to PRX during her tenure. She extended her reach beyond U.S. borders, overseeing distribution to the ABU, EBU, and China. Additionally, she was an early advisor and advocate of the Studs Terkel Radio Archive in addition to providing media production.

    Beyond her professional achievements, Paloma has always been an active and engaged member of her communities. While living in Boston, she mentored at Zumix's youth radio station and participated in enlightening panels for Women in Sound. In Chicago, she dedicated herself to volunteer work at Casa Aztlan in the Pilsen neighborhood. Her passion for storytelling led her to volunteer at The Moth StorySlams, further immersing herself in the art of narrative. Now back in Chicago, she continues to seek ways to give back, believing in audio's power to connect people and amplify diverse voices.

Second Year Anniversary