Meet Lynne and Joshua, Arts Midwest's Newest Board Members

Arts Midwest is excited to welcome two new arts leaders to our Board of Directors: Lynne Chambers, CEO and Founder of Legacy Training, Inc., and Joshua Davis-Ruperto, Executive Director of the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

We spoke with Lynne and Joshua to hear what’s inspiring their work right now, their hopes for the Midwest, and learn why Midwestern creativity matters to them.

Lynne, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello! I’m Lynne Chambers, and I am the CEO and Founder) of Legacy Training, Inc. in Marion, Illinois.

My work as an attorney and community advocate is focused on expanding access to arts, culture, and civic engagement — and I’m also the one you’ll find dancing in the aisles or sitting in front of a canvas, in deep dialogue. I love all things art and all things living, unabashedly and unapologetically.

My career has centered on nonprofit leadership, community-centered program development, and cross-sector collaboration, with a particular focus on strengthening rural communities through the arts and humanities.

I was born in Chicago and raised in southern Illinois by a family who believed that education is the antidote for poverty — and who believed in me. Their legacy, and the power of the arts to build connection and community, guides everything I do.

 

 

Joshua, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hey everyone! My name is Joshua Davis-Ruperto, and I have served as Executive Director of the Illinois Arts Council since 2017, following previous roles as the agency’s Deputy Director and Program Manager.

Prior to this work, I taught undergraduate courses at Brandeis University, worked in board development at Steppenwolf Theatre, and contributed to urban planning projects for the architecture firm SOM.

At the National Endowment for the Arts, I helped run the Education Leaders Institute, a national initiative aimed at strengthening arts education through collaboration with legislators and policy leaders.

I’ve also spent many years as a theater artist, performing with companies such as the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Goodman Theatre, and Chicago’s Second City.

I have an over-zealous doodle puppy named Violet and an unhealthy love for terrible reality television.

What excites you most about joining the Arts Midwest board?

Lynne: What excites me most about joining the Arts Midwest Board is the chance to help expand access to the arts across the Midwest—especially in rural and under-resourced communities. I am looking forward to developing new relationships and understanding the creative economy of the region.

Joshua: I’m excited about the opportunity to collaborate with regional leaders who are deeply committed to strengthening the Midwest through policy and programming.  With our cultural traditions, community-centered values, and geographical diversity, the Midwest is a wonderful representation of the nation. We’re uniquely positioned in this moment to set an example for what true partnership and arts impact can look like for the future.

What are a few examples of Midwestern creativity that you want people to know about?

Joshua: Firebird Community Arts runs a program called Project FIRE, a glassblowing and trauma recovery program for youth injured by gun violence in Chicago. They also run an employment and mentoring program that provides trauma-informed support groups, case management, and medical treatment. The program is in partnership with Healing Hurt People-Chicago, a hospital-based violence intervention program that provides case management support to participants.

The Macoupin Art Collective in Staunton, Illinois, has the ARTBUS. It’s filled to the brim with supplies for pottery, sewing, stained glass, drawings, paintings, felting, jewelry, and more. With the ArtBus, they take classes to severely underserved communities, offering workshops and activities for children and adults who might not have had the chance to let their creativity shine.

Lynne: In Chicago, murals and public art in areas like Pilsen, Bronzeville, and Little Village have transformed whole neighborhoods into galleries. In Central Illinois, you find college-based creativity hubs that include student performances, galleries, and community partnerships. And in Southernmost Illinois, Cairo, you find historic storytelling and preservation creativity — reclaiming historic buildings, spotlighting Black history, and documenting elders’ memories.

What’s inspiring you lately?

Lynne: Lately, I’ve been inspired by the simple but powerful feeling of watching my work take shape in real time. For so long, the vision has lived in my mind and heart — ideas, conversations, and plans that I knew mattered, even when they weren’t fully formed yet. But now, I’m starting to see those pieces come together. Seeing progress reminds me that consistent effort matters, that relationships matter, and that change is often slow—until one day it isn’t.

Joshua: Honestly, I’m inspired watching creativity do what it always does: adapt, connect people, and remind us we’re not alone even when the world feels a bit heavy. I see small victories happening in all of Illinois’ counties. Progress doesn’t always have to be loud to be meaningful.

Photo Credit: Zeltzin Vazquez / Courtesy of National Museum of Mexican Art