Staff

Uniqua J. Adams
Development Director

Uniqua J. Adams was born and raised in Racine, WI. The eldest of 7 siblings, her passions have always been rooted in family, faith, and community. A double major in Sociology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, Uniqua graduated in 2017 with her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She then went on to serve two years in AmeriCorps with City Year Milwaukee which fueled her passion in disrupting systems that create barriers from youth of color to excel in the K12 academic space. She then went on to receive her Masters inCulture Foundations of Community Engagement and Education with focuses on educational policy and fundraising from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She wasn’t done there, though.She was then accepted into the Doctoral program of Nonprofit Management with a focus on Urban Education at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As she pursues her doctorate, sheworks as a Director of Development at Milwaukee Academy of Science, serves on the board of directors for the YWCA of Southeastern Wi, UW-Parkside Alumni Association and City Year Milwaukee, and is a finer woman of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. Through academic success and leadership, she was the winner of the Chancellor’s Award at UWM, a participant of Forward 48 and YMCA Black Achievers and continues to strive for excellence in what she does.

Bolanle Awosika
Visual Art Instructor

Bolanle Awosika is an acrylic painter from the beautiful city of Milwaukee, WI. From an early age Bolanle realized she had a natural artistic gift. To sharpen her skills, she has taken art courses at Ottos Art Academy, Oak Park Art League and Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art. Bolanle’s work has been showcased in several galleries and exhibitions in the state of Wisconsin and Illinois. Her work is inspired by scriptures from the Bible. Through the combination of colors and symbols she creates paintings that express the messages of love, hope, joy and peace which helps to administer healing for the soul.

Ky’esha Bufford
Program Assistant | Dance Instructor

Ky’esha Bufford , is your creative companion and Program Assistant at TBEY Art Center. With a passion for the intersection of art & community, I bring a unique blend of artistic insight and technical prowess to enhance your creative journey. In the realm of art ,Youth & Family community enrichment I thrive. With a background in Dance studying at Milwaukee Highschool of the Arts as a dance major To Transferring to St Joan Antida High School and carrying a senior class in Dance/Musical Theater Solo and group Performances and Being Elected as best dance Of my senior class in 2008 I continued my journey in Dance at Columbia College Chicago. And have been in Childcare for 10+ years in Program coordination, mentorship and Americorps tutoring. I became A Full Spectrum Doula in 2018 and a Community Advocate for youth & family engagement In Starting Essence Dulove. This position has equipped me with the skills to creatively navigate the dynamic and landscape of an artistic expression while Enriching families in the communities. From curating innovative programs to fostering collaborative environments, I’m dedicated to elevating your artistic experience

Daniel Cha
Visual Art Instructor

Daniel Cha is the Visual Arts Instructor at TBEY Arts Center. He is a portraiture artist. He graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design with a Bachelors in the Fine Arts of Painting. Daniel is currently working at Milwaukee Public Schools to help spread art around greater Milwaukee and bring a positive message through art.

Chancie Cole
Dance Instructor | Lead Choreographer

Chancie Cole’s unique form of talent started while attending Milwaukee High School of the Arts, where she majored in dance and discovered her true passion. Cole studied ballet, modern, African, jazz, and hip-hop and continues to perfect her craft by taking classes. Chancie has been the lead dance instructor and choreographer for TBEY, Inc. for over 10 years, and has helped design dance curriculums for our dance programs. Cole is also the lead coach/choreographer for TBEY’s Dance Team “SuperNova” that performs at several events throughout the year. She is well known for her huge role as the lead choreographer for TBEY’s Annual Summer Dance Production “A Journey through Dance” since its inception in 2009. Chancie is active in the dance community and still performs as a member of two professional dance performance groups. Working with TBEY, Inc. Chancie has experience working with youth during and after-school hours. Chancie is a mentor, instructor, choreographer, entertainer, team player and strong leader.

Desmond Cotton
Dance Instructor / Lead Choreographer

Desmond Cotton graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in December 2015 with a BFA in contemporary dance and performance choreography. He is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and began his formal training at Milwaukee High School of the Arts. Cotton has a passion for dance as well as providing dance education/training for children. He firmly believes in cultivating dance throughout the Milwaukee community; thus, inspiring and enriching the lives of his students. Desmond has been a dance instructor, choreographer, sharing his passion with Milwaukee youth at TBEY for over 11 years. He has also designed dance curriculums for TBEY dance programs. Cotton is also the choreographer for TBEY’s Dance Team “SuperNova” that performs at several events throughout the year. He helps lead and choreograph TBEY’s Annual Summer Dance Production “A Journey through Dance” since its inception in 2009.

Sheniqua Freeman
Program and ArtReach Manager

Sheniqua A. Freeman is a Milwaukee native, who returned to the city during the pandemic. Freeman was previously located in Nashville, TN and served as a Registered Dental Assistant and as an Operations Manager for a span of 13 years. She is currently a full time Entrepreneur, creating and selling custom art pieces, hosting and co-hosting community related events, as well as hosting wellness art sessions for both adults and children. Sheniqua A. Freeman is the owner of SAF Art Studio, LLC (pronounced SAFE). She is an Acrylic Pour-Paint Artist, who started her business after attending therapy professionally. Freeman began both her healing and artistic journey simultaneously, which allowed her the freedom of sharing who she is, through creative expression. As she began to share her story, talents & knowledge with those in the community, she noticed a dire need to have creative outlets to release the stresses of life, through the arts. “Besides attending therapy, I believe that we should use activities like painting, gardening, writing and dance, as healthy outlets and coping mechanisms through our own imagination and experiences. You can have healing through the arts!”

Debrasha Greye
Dance Instructor | Teaching Art Lead

Artist and Arts Administrator, Debrasha Greye has been nurtured through her involvement in various Milwaukee area dance and theatre arts programs including Art In Motion, City Ballet Theatre, Modjeska Youth Theatre, Lincoln Center of the Arts, and Milwaukee High School of the Arts. In her early 20s, Greye was presented with teaching and performance experiences with Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap, the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), public and private school residencies, and various local and national performance venues. Dedicated to expanding her artistic repertoire, Greye has studied dance in studios from Latin America to Germany. Her myriad of dance experiences and commitment to the arts led her to further express her creative tenacity through administrative support to arts organizations, nonprofits, and creative entrepreneurs through business administration under Debrasha Greye, LLC. She remains connected to her artistic roots through teaching dance and collaborating with community-based organizations. Always committed to promoting progressive ideologies and artistic development, in 2023 Greye announced The Beautiful Dancer Initiative with the intent to encourage brown-skinned dancers to wear TRUE flesh-toned apparel and shoes while they learn and perform.

Donna Lewis
Music Instructor/ Teaching Artist Lead

Donna Lewis is a Milwaukee local musician, entrepreneur and alumna of TBEY Arts center 13’. She participated in several performing arts programs as a child, however discovered her passion and gift for music in high school, leading Riverside’s Gospel Choir and several Multicultural programs. In college, she taught herself how to play guitar and has always had the natural ability for rhythm. Donna also sings, songwriters and composers music. She is heavily inspired by 70 soul music and often infuses this in her content creations. Artists like Patrice Rushen, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson have heavily influenced her music abilities. Donna is the daughter of late local Jazz Trumpeter and educator Don Lewis. Donna realized her true calling and purpose to be a musical artist during college, as she often found herself being alone and music oftentimes was her centerpiece connection. In the 2020 pandemic, she spent much time creating and developing her skills as a musician in her dorm. She even collaborated with a producer named Ambrozia, who is based in the Netherlands to produce her debut single “I Won’t Try”, under her stage name Donna Re’nee. She has vivid memories of spiritually connecting to west African drums at 7 years old, which guided her current mission to follow the beat of her heart and pursue music. Alongside Donna’s rich musical history, she is passionate about working with youth, through arts and education. Donna is eager to contribute to TBEY’s mission of inspiring youth to be creative and push them to their fullest potential.

Eugene Strei
Theatre Instructor

Eugene Strei will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in the spring of 2024 with a BFA in Musical Theater and a minor in dance. Eugene is originally from Minnesota, where he first started doing theater in high school.
Eugene is also an emerging playwright and has had his work featured at UW-Milwaukee and the IYKYK Playfest, presented by La Jolla Playhouse.
As both an actor and playwright, Eugene hopes to tell stories focused on the LGBTQ+ communities, specifically showcasing and creating role for gender-expansive individuals. He is excited to start sharing his passion for theater with others!

Zakia Wells
Visual Art Instructor

Milwaukee born and raised Zakia Wells is an intuitive artist, art educator, reiki practitioner and spiritual mentor with a focus on spirit and catharsis in her artwork. She has turned her love of art, spirit and enjoying the journey of becoming into her first business “Zakia Wells Art & Spirit”. She includes energy work in her artwork from bookmarks to murals. Her favorite mediums are watercolor, acrylic and collage art. Each piece of art is unique and intuitively created instead of completely planned out. In her work as an art educator, she focuses on inspiring children and adults to be themselves and express themselves in full. As a young human in her mid 20s she understands that she is still growing as an artist,spiritualist and person; she applies this philosophy to all she meets. Everyone is growing and changing; just like art & spirit.