Jasa McKenzie (she/her) joined The Great Northern team in 2022 and produces inspired public art installations, immersive music commissions, creative culinary collaborations, and outdoor experiences that speak to place, our common humanity, the power of the arts, and embrace nature in winter. Jasa is a curator–her work driven by issues of identity, equality, and social justice. After attaining a Bachelor’s in Studio Art from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, she completed her Master’s in Curatorial Practice from the School of Visual Art in New York. In addition her role at The Great Northern, she was on the team for the Hawai’i Biennial in Honolulu, Hawai’i (2025), documenta fifteen in Kassel, Germany (2022), Desert X in the Coachella Valley, California (2019, 2021), and Berlin Biennale 10 in Berlin, Germany (2018). She was the creator and co-host of SOTA: State of the Arts (2018-2020)–a podcast dissecting critical issues in contemporary art, along with SOTA Projects, which produced pop-up exhibitions and programming in the Twin Cities. She was the first-place recipient of the 2017-18 Apexart Exhibition Franchise Program, which resulted in the exhibition Absences in Nagoya, Japan (2018). She’s lived in five states and four countries, enthusiastically choosing to move back to Minneapolis. She practices art in her home studio and performs locally in an indie rock ensemble.

Brianna Low (she/her) leads marketing and sales strategy for The Great Northern, bringing more than a decade of experience in growth marketing, content strategy, and promotions. Before joining the team, she held roles at Visana Health, the Loft Literary Center, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia). Having lived in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Brianna is a Midwest advocate and a season enjoyer. She’s passionate about partnering with community organizations, artists, leaders, and local businesses to celebrate and elevate the state and the region.

Lillie Benowitz (she/they) has produced the Climate Solution Series for The Great Northern since 2022 and added family programming to her roster in 2023. The Climate Solution Series is a dynamic educational experience featuring conversations, workshops, and more that allow us to explore our changing climate through the lenses of culture and heritage, the economy, and social equity. Lillie has worked for social healing and spirituality organizations, including The On Being Project and At The Well and founded Sustain Studio, a creative facilitation and intentional convening hub dedicated to tending ways of being together that sustain life. An experienced event producer, project manager, and spiritual tender, Lillie is excited about projects that inspire new ways of being together, especially creating experiences that kindle deeper, more holistic relationships with ourselves, each other, and the divine stuff we are made of.

Chris Mode (he/him) is a producer and arts administrator who has worked in various capacities to support the creation and performance of new interdisciplinary work in both New York City and the Twin Cities. He was a member of the General Management team at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, executing programming including festivals, site specific work, and special events. As a producer, Chris has worked with the Liquid Music Series, The Great Northern Festival, and Beth Morrison Projects, and has toured internationally with world premiere productions. In the Twin Cities, Chris has held administrative positions with the Guthrie Theater and American Composers Forum. 

Charly Frisk (she/her) is a passionate climate advocate and strategic communicator committed to driving meaningful change. She holds a Master’s of Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment and a dual degree in Environmental Studies and Peace Studies from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. Originally from Colorado, she has fully embraced Minnesota’s winters and the deep sense of place that comes with them. With a background in environmental storytelling and movement-building, Charly uses film, events, and community engagement to spark conversations about climate resilience. At The Great Northern, she supports grant writing and fosters donor engagement.

Angel Akurienne (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist, writer, and creative director originally from the Midwest by way of Lagos, Nigeria, now resides in Minneapolis, Mn.  With a foundation in performance from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, Angel integrates her stage expertise with her passion for activism, producing, and storytelling. A freelance Arts & Culture Journalist you can find her work in the MN Spokesman Recorder and The Great Northern’s blog. Her work “holds a mirror up to nature” and aims to craft narratives that are rich, diverse, and globally impactful. At The Great Northern’s Admin & Engagement Assistant, she helps foster community connections and supports festival operations