Kultur Stories 2022 Team

Gail Prensky — Creator, Executive Producer, and Director
As creator and director of The Jüdische Kulturbund Project, Gail brings to this project a deep and first-hand understanding of the Kulturbund’s spirit and recognizes the issues of living under oppression that continue with artists around the world today. Her interviews with the Kulturbund survivors and current-day artists form the basis of her passion and vision for this project, which is rooted in the Kulturbund’s strong regard for music and the performing arts.  In 2001 Gail started researching and gathering material about the Kulturbund. Several years later she brought together select talent, partners, and like-minded supporters to make this project possible and then interviewed artists living under oppression in various countries. Her hope and dream is that the project will serve as a beacon of inspiration to all people.

Gail has written, produced, and directed a broad range of media projects in film, multimedia, books, and exhibitions. Through her Meteopa Productions, Gail produces independent projects focusing on advocacy, art, human rights, music themes, and cultural exchange. Gail is a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship American Impact Award; an Awardee of the Reciprocal Exchange component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (2019 and 2022); and U.S. State Department Arts Envoy Program Awardee (2019).  She is also honored to be an ongoing participant in the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Alumni Ambassadors Initiative.

Mark brings organizational, financial, and administrative expertise to our project team, as well as film production, and a multitude of other things.  He is an international trade economist with over 25 years of experience advising companies, foreign governments, and trade associations on issues relating to international trade and economic and business trends. Among other things, Mark served as senior executive for a number of companies, including as President and CEO of the International Business and Economic Research Corporation (IBERC).

Mark is an Awardee of the Reciprocal Exchange component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (2022). On occasion, he sails the ocean, strums guitars and ukuleles, and performs stand-up comedy.

Dominic Dau Deng Mathiang (DD Dawoody) — Project Coordinator in South Sudan for BULLETS TO BOOKS and Education Facilitator, KULTUR STORIES
DD is a singer, songwriter, activist, student, and entrepreneur.  He was born in Wau Western Bhar El Gazal, Sudan (now South Sudan).  While growing up he was involved in church choir then began creating music, leading a music group in performances of African traditional music and dance.  He incorporates these influences based on his personal experience rather than theoretically approaching African music. He continues to perform with groups and as a solo artist; performance pieces are a major part of his life’s work.  He released his first hit in 2011 called SOUTH SUDAN IS MY HOME and also launched an album in 2012 called INTI WAHIT.  In 2016, he released his third album, I LOVE MY NATION.

Apart from working as a composer, performer, and solo musician, DD is also a first member artist whose music videos trended on national TV (SSBC or SSTV) during the independence of the Republic of South Sudan and contributed to live performances the same day.DD Dawoody has been participating in Artist Initiatives for Peace and response to oppression, which include AnaTaban Art Initiative, I AM PEACE, and The Jüdische Kulturbund Project. Learn more about DD on YouTube and Facebook.

Johan Fält — Education Facilitator
Johan Fält is a director, actor, playwright, and musician living in Karlstad, Sweden. He has studied drama, film, art and art history in Malmö and Karlstad and has a Bachelor of Art in cultural studies from the University of Karlstad. Through the years Johan has appeared in plays varying from Shakespeare to Ionesco and Pinter as well as directing in several different genres from children’s plays to drama and musicals. He has also composed original music for theatre and film. Johan is a part of the Kunskapsteatern, a theatre company to illustrate facts and knowledge through drama and entertainment.

Kaitlyn Haney — Education Facilitator
Kaitlyn is passionate about creating community and fostering connection through art and education. She believes anyone can be an artist. She spent six years working with elementary and middle school students in extracurricular programming, where she combined her love of the arts with a background in mental health to encourage self-expression and creative exploration. She has practiced photography since childhood and worked as a freelance photographer in the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area throughout her adult life. Kaitlyn serves as an arts ambassador for The Pad Project which works to end period poverty and menstrual stigma. She is an awardee of the Reciprocal Exchange component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (2022).

Saum Idd —Education Facilitator
Saum Idd lives in Kenya where she is a journalist, writer and social innovator who believes stories have the power to change the world. For over six years, she has worked with brands and clients including the Danish Refugee Council, Sabis International School and KARI to translate their visions through communication, strategy and development; production management; and digital content development.  Saum is passionate about using storytelling as a tool for advocacy, working with the youth in the low-resourced communities, including Kibera, Nandi County and high schools where she runs film club programs. She is an Ashoka 2020 fellow, a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders as well as an alumnus of the  Akili Dada Fellowship and its Young Changemakers Program. Saum  also volunteers as a mentor for Reaching Out with Compassion in Kibera (ROCK). Saum is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (2021).

Cindy Oxberry — Education Coordinator and Facilitator; Intern Manager
Cindy went to Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and began her post as a resident assistant director for Marta Domingo and her production of LA RONDINE and for David Edwards’ production of FEDORA starring Mirella Freni and Placido Domingo. For 20 years she has returned to work on such productions as DON CARLO, MAGIC FLUTE, RIGOLETTO, IL TROVATORE, IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, TURANDOT, THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, HANSEL & GRETEL, PIQUE DAME (starring Placido Domingo), LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, VANESSA, MANON LESCAUT, AIDA, NORMA, SAMSON & DELILAH, L’ITALIANA D’ALGERI, LA CENERENTOLA, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, JENUFA, LA BOHEME, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, PEARL FISHERS, PETER GRIMES, DON PASQUALE and LE NOZZE DI FIGARO. She has also worked for Los Angeles Opera as an assistant director on LA RONDINE, LA TRAVIATA, THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and LUISA FERNANDA, starring Placido Domingo.

In the summer of 2000, Cindy was invited to serve as the stage director for OPERA INSTITUTE where she still is only now as the Program Director in addition to her classroom teaching. She has also served as the stage director for CAMP FOR KIDS – both programs offered by the Education Department of Washington National Opera.

Cindy’s directorial career has also flourished. She has directed several productions of THE MERRY WIDOW, around the country. Her MIKADO has been remounted in several American cities as well as several wonderful musicals, THE MUSIC MAN, CAROUSEL, CAMELOT and CANDIDE. She is honored to also be a director as major universities and colleges in the US as well. She has recently begun working in the genre of cabaret and loves it!

She was most proud to be invited by Mr. Domingo to Mexico City to celebrate his 40^th anniversary as an international artist. She had the honor of working with Mr. Domingo on the production of FEDORA for the International Opera Company of Mexico at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Wyatt Oroke — Education Facilitator
Wyatt Oroke is a nationally recognized educator for his work around social justice and literacy. Mr. Oroke graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Johns Hopkins University School of Education in 2015 with a Master of Science in Education. Mr. Oroke currently teaches 7^th and 8^th grade English and Honors English at City Springs Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City. For his school Mr. Oroke serves as the middle school team leader, coaches girls’ volleyball and boys’ basketball, and has a host of other leadership positions including a professional development facilitator in race and equity, scholar academic growth, and culturally responsive curriculum. For the district Mr. Oroke serves on the CEO’s Teacher Advisory Council, works as a writing instruction expert for the Literacy Improvement Fellowship, serves as a curriculum writer for the Wholeness Writers Fellowship, and is a professional development facilitator in Courageous Conversations around race and identity. Mr. Oroke has received recognition for his teaching including awards from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Baltimore School of Law, the Maryland State Senate, the Baltimore Orioles, and was awarded the “Superhero Award” by Ellen DeGeneres, where he appeared twice on her show. Mr. Oroke was named the 2020 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year and the 2021 Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Leif Persson — Program Co-Director and Education Facilitator
Leif Persson is a director, actor and regional coordinator of theatre at the national touring theatre Riksteatern in Sweden.  Leif has a long experience in theatre and has been active in a large variety of Sweden’s independent theatres and institutions. Until the late 1990s he was the chairperson of the Center for Independent Theatres in Sweden.

Noa Zimmerman — Education Facilitator
Noa Zimmerman’s career has reflected her belief in the responsibility of artists to push society forward by using their platforms to raise awareness about injustices and inspire others to take action to create positive change. As a musician and filmmaker, she strives to present herself and her art as authentically as possible and create human-to-human connections. In May of 2021, she graduated with a double degree from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, studying Popular Music Performance with an emphasis on Songwriting, and Music Production. Upon admittance to USC, Noa was awarded a full-tuition Stamps Scholarship for her leadership, academic achievement, and community engagement. In March 2020, Noa co-founded and became Executive Director of the Artivist Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the voices of activist artists and connecting them with local and global communities to advance social, racial, environmental, and economic justice. Noa is an Awardee of the Reciprocal Exchange component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (2022).