Welcome! My name is Ellie Tsuchiya (she/her). I’m a second-generation Japanese American, born and raised in Florida, and nurtured by the civic community in Atlanta. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Japanese from Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts (yes, a liberal arts student at an engineering school!).
My career began in Economic Development, where I collaborated with corporations, public agencies, nonprofits, civic leaders, and community partners to position metro Atlanta as the economic hub of the Southeast. During this time, I discovered Creative Placemaking—a field that elevates arts and culture as vital components of community and economic growth. As a lifelong dancer and arts advocate, I was captivated. In 2020, I earned a certificate in Creative Placemaking from New England College of the Arts, which deepened my understanding of how thriving communities are built on people’s strong connection to place.
The murder of George Floyd marked a pivotal moment in my career. It underscored the inequities in the Economic Development field, where promises of economic growth often prioritized corporate interests over equitable practices. This realization inspired me to pivot into community organizing, focusing on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, while integrating my Creative Placemaking expertise.
Since then, I’ve worked with Georgia-based and national social justice organizations, as well as political campaigns advocating for immigrant and economic justice. I’m especially proud of projects like the ABC’s of AAPI’s Coloring Book, which blend advocacy, art, and community building. My grant writing journey began with Dance ATL, where I secured the organization’s first federal grant to launch a fellowship for dancers of color—an initiative rooted in organizing strategies from my prior work.
Seeking a balance between proximity to my family in Japan and my extended family in Hawaiʻi, I relocated to Oʻahu in August 2023. Today, I’m proud to serve as the Development and Grants Manager for ʻŌlelo Community Media.
And for anyone who made it this far… my ultimate career goal is to work on an NEA Our Town Creative Placemaking project.
Ellie Ayane 