Our Team
Kadie Dempsey, Partner
I have more than 15 years experience building successful and sustainable relationships in communities. I describe myself as “someone who connects the dots.” As the Director of Arts in Community/
Creative Placemaking for a non-profit arts organization for over ten years, my experience has given me a deep understanding of how successful communities are built. I am a member of the advisory committee for both the National and New Jersey Consortium for Creative Placemaking and on the Arts taskforce of Sustainable New Jersey. I received my Master Practitioner Certification in Creative Placemaking from The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in 2013.
As a Creative Placemaker, my goal is to facilitate community engagement in a way that will build on what is already taking place and to teach people how to identify the leadership qualities within their own teams and communities.
Dan Fenelon, Partner
I was trained at the Arts Student League in New York City and graduated from the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston. I have had more than 15
solo shows in galleries from New York City to California, and have produced numerous large-scale community murals in several states. My murals have been commissioned by such prestigious organizations as the Tibet House, The Montclair Art Museum, and recently the Port Authority of New York City. My work infuses a mix of modern art with diverse cultural influences, and my passion is partnering with communities to create art that reflects the past, present, and future of its neighborhoods, towns, schools, health care facilities, and public spaces.
We believe creativity is a key component to successful engagement. It is important to trust that a group of individuals can create their own unique, authentic vision.
Brooks Dempsey Bono
Yankees fan extraordinaire, prep -school graduate turned into a Sun Devil ASU fan by attending college in Tempe where people do not wear khakis or blue blazers.
Worked as a Telecommunications representative and currently attending NH School of Art and Design completing his Creative Placemaking Certification in 2019.
Loves reading anything he can find on entrepreneurs and also is a proud cat owner of two beautiful cats. Brooks can understand complex strategies for solving problems
If you want to know more about world politics or what is happening with College Football Brooks is the go to man. Brooks is a serious thinker with a great sense of humor and makes CORE a more interesting and fun place to work.
Sam Smouha
Sam Smouha is an urban planner, artist, and filmmaker living in Brooklyn, New York. Sam believes in using creativity and planning to build strong communities and make the world a better place. Sam works as an independent consultant for social and environmental enterprises, contributing analysis, strategy, and creative solutions for urban development projects and programs. He also works as a videographer and editor, focusing on stories about people and companies shaping urban environments and doing good things in the world. His painting was recently featured on the cover of the World Bank publication, "Data-Driven Development," and he has worked with Dan Fenelon on a community mural project with senior citizens in Englewood, New Jersey. Sam is a StartingBloc Fellow, and graduated with a BA from Vassar College and a Master's of Urban Planning from Hunter College. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Sheika D. Mckoy
Sheila D. McKoy, President, SDM Art Solution Service, LLC, has managed the selection of many artists around the nation, overseeing contract negotiations with contractors and artists alike. She has also connected communities, consultants, architects and engineers, guiding the process of integrating artwork into the transportation system. Sheila has successfully produced over 160 public arts projects at transit facilities throughout the transportation system serving the state of New Jersey.
Sheila retired from NJ TRANSIT in 2015 after more than 29 years of dedicated employment that contributed to her own personal growth as well as the growth of art in this public forum. She successfully served as the Director of the Transit Arts Program for 16 years. During her tenure, she launched the first micro-site on NJ TRANSIT’s website, which showcases artists, their works of art and the locations of their installations throughout NJ TRANSIT’s Transportation system. Sheila has had the pleasure of working with such notable artist as Albert Paley, Larry Kirkland, Cork Marcheschi, Richard Hass, Wopo Holup and Willie Cole, just to name a few.
Sheila has passionately served as the President of the Newark Arts Council for the 2013-2017 years and was a trustee for seven years. During her tenure as President she had led the organization through significant change and growth, which has been most transformational for the overall organization and those it serves. Her enduring focus and ongoing effort have resulted in new and inspired organizational leadership, capacity building, holistic planning, historic funding with a $1 million grant from Prudential and heightened board development.
Sheila has been a model leader and mentor to many. She has been a recognized speaker and expert throughout her career, participating in panel discussions on public art at Pratt Institute, New State Council on the Arts; creative place-making conferences, as well as at various museums and galleries.
She holds a BA in Management from Dowling College and an MBA from St. Peter’s University.