Marti Foster,
Founder and Executive Director

While working as the Community Coordinator with the West Humboldt Park Development Council, Marti Foster came up with the idea for the West Humboldt Park Center for Performing Arts. In this case, necessity was the mother of invention. At the time the Neighborhood Relations Officer Sadia Griffin, of the 11th police district inquired about after-school programs. She was concerned with the gang wars and drive-by shootings. She felt that if there were some summer programs then kids would be off the street and not so vulnerable. Since there were no after-school or summer programs for kids in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood, Marti took the matter into her own hands and wrote a concept paper for an arts & culture program in the community. Thus the Center for Performing Arts was born. Starting with that concept paper, Marti formed the original Board of Directors in June of 1997.

Marti's performing arts experience occurred at the Ogden Park Field House in the community of Englewood where she grew up. From 1960 through 1968 she learned tap dance, ballet, acting and gymnastics. She was also on the volleyball team and ran track. "My inspiration to do what I do came from our director Mrs. Virginia Johnson-Smith, who was our lifeline."

Marti continues to support the children of West Humboldt Park as the Executive Director of the West Humboldt Park Center for Performing Arts.