Meet Central District forum director at open house

Seattle's Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas (CD Forum) will host its annual open house Thursday. The organization is celebrating its 10th anniversary season, and the festivities will offer Seattleites an opportunity to meet CD Forum's new executive director, Kumani Gantt, who moved here from Philadelphia this summer.

In Philadelphia, Gantt was the executive and artistic director of The Village of Arts and Humanities. She's also a playwright, performer and poet in her own right, and an alumna of the Hedgebrook and Norcroft writers retreats.

In a June statement posted on the CD Forum's MySpace blog, Gantt said, "I've spent the last 15 years seeking ways to challenge stereotypes, with a commitment to ideas, issues and artistic endeavors that focus on what it means to be African-American." Under her leadership, she says, CD Forum will "maintain and grow its work at the forefront of engaging African Americans and the city at large, through both the humanities and performing arts."

The CD Forum Open House happens 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Yesler Place Rooftop, 1404 E. Yesler Way, Seattle. The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP would be appreciated. Call or e-mail development coordinator Emily Whitman: 206-323-4032, ext. 116, or emilyw@cdforum.org.

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com