651 ARTS Names 3 New
Board Members in Brooklyn

651 ARTS Welcomes Three New Board Members

Today, 651 Arts and its Executive Director, Toya A. Lillard, announced the appointment of three new members to 651 ARTS’ Board of Directors!

Lillard stated, "We are thrilled to have recently welcomed Dr. Tashion Macon (Principal, strut AGENCY), Cori Murray (Former EVP, Editorial Content, EBONY), and Toni Yuille Williams (Founder and Executive Producer, Brooklyn Savvy) to the 651 ARTS family. Each of these passionate, mission-driven leaders brings a wealth of experience and is perfectly poised to guide and advocate for 651 ARTS as we work to meet this pivotal moment in our history."

Dr. Tashion Macon is a philanthropic culturalist, strategic communications strategist, and founder and CEO of strut AGENCY, a nationally recognized strategic marketing and communications firm. Her work sits at the intersection of pop culture, philanthropy, communications, and civic transformation.

As a culturalist, Macon believes storytelling is more than communication, it is infrastructure. Through strategic narrative design, she helps safeguard cultural memory, elevate historically overlooked voices, and ensure that communities are not simply represented but remembered.

Before founding strut AGENCY, Macon built an award-winning career with some of the world’s most recognized entertainment and media companies. Macon holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and an MBA in Strategic Marketing.

Cori Murray is a multi-platform storyteller and former EVP of Editorial Content at EBONY. As the former Deputy Editor at ESSENCE, she led the brand’s digital and print platforms that serves 31 million Black women. Under Murray’s editorial leadership, ESSENCE won its first American Society for Magazine Editor’s National Magazine Award for Photography and featured a same-sex couple on its cover—a first in its history.

The writer, editor, producer and host received a ElevatHER award by the Black Women Film Network  in recognition for how she “prepares and preserves the untold stories of Black women to empower future generations.” She's written cover stories for Marie Claire, InStyle, Women's Health and EBONY.

Murray is a member of the African American Film Critics Association and serves as a judge for the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Society of Features Journalism. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Hampton University and lives in Brooklyn with her daughter.

Toni Williams is a visionary force in community centric media and the powerhouse founder behind Brooklyn Savvy—a groundbreaking platform that champions diverse voices and confronts today’s most urgent social issues head-on. Toni also brings her signature insight and energy to Art Movez, the thought-provoking radio series she created and hosts on WNYE 91.5 FM.

Toni was the Director of Regional and Community Affairs in Brooklyn for Con Edison, a position she held for over 30 years.

Most recently, Toni was  the Chair of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies. She was also Chair of the Billie Holiday Theater and of Brooklyn Arts Council, where she led a major leadership transition. Toni also serves on the boards of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, BRIC Art Media Brooklyn, and the New York City Technical College Foundation Board. 

Source: Submitted by 651 Arts