James Ray Rhodes deferred his dream of becoming an architect for years while he worked in corporate America. Finally, in the fall of 1990 and at the age of 26, he made it happen. “With an acceptance letter, $500 to my name, a $5,000 tuition bill and a 5-year-old daughter to support, I went all in and traveled to Hampton University with one goal,” he said. “After being told ‘no’ eight times, threatened to be escorted off campus, I finally got a yes, got into school and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in May of 1996.”
Today, Rhodes is the executive director of Christina Cultural Arts Center, a renowned arts organization founded in 1945 with a mission to empower underserved communities through arts education. Under Rhodes’ leadership, the organization has experienced remarkable growth and financial success, achieving extraordinary milestones even during the challenging times of the pandemic.
Rhodes stepped into his role at the arts center in the fall of 2019, just months before the pandemic hit in full force. Despite the adversity, he led Christina Cultural Arts Center to unparalleled heights, achieving economic growth and finishing the year with close to a $1 million dollar cash flow. Rhodes’ strategic decisions and innovative mental health initiative, S.E.R.V.I.C.E, played a pivotal role in the center’s success, connecting the organization with its supporters and increasing enrollment in the School of the Arts by 23%. The initiative also addressed barriers associated with mental health access, making counseling more affordable and accessible to individuals and families of color.
In 2023, Rhodes achieved a milestone by securing the organization’s largest gift ever, a $4.5 million capital grant, which will expand Christina Cultural Arts Center’s physical footprint and impact on the local, regional and national arts stage.
In the next five years, Rhodes envisions using technology and the arts to empower and connect learners across regions such as Sudan, Rwanda, South Africa and others. The organization will continue to be a driving force for arts education, fostering creativity, reducing violence and promoting economic impact.
Rhodes is a 21-year military veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Naval Reserves, U.S. Air Force Reserves and the U.S. Army Reserves. He is a recipient of the Naval Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Award, Marksman Award and Meritorious Unit Citation.
“Flexibility, decisiveness and resilience are vital attributes for successful leaders in today’s challenging and dynamic business environment,” Rhodes said. “Flexibility is critical when the pace of change is both fast and unpredictable. Leaders must be able to quickly adapt strategies to navigate through these choppy waters and be willing to make timely decisions despite the ambiguity. And of course, in an environment of headwinds, resilience is key. Setbacks are inevitable; it is how leaders respond to the setbacks that make the difference between those that will flourish and those that will struggle.”
