Monica Haslip

Monica began her love affair with visual arts while attending Alabama School of Fine Arts. It was in this environment that she discovered the beauty and complexities of Art & Culture. In pursuit of her passion, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she continued her studies at Atlanta College of Art.

Monica’s exploration north to Chicago led her to Johnson Publishing Company where she worked in the photography department and from there her desire to expose people to the importance of positive images of African-Americans in our society landed her a position with Black Entertainment Television as Senior Marketing Manager for the Midwestern region.

However, Monica’s passion for art never ceased and her desire to highlight the importance of African-Americans in every aspect of life, especially in the arts, was very profound. Her mission resulted in the creation of Little Black Pearl Workshop. The organization, founded in 1994, is an innovative neighborhood arts program designed to expose children and youth to the vast contributions that African-Americans have made to the arts.

The primary vision is to create an avenue for exposure to art and culture while teaching the profitable connection between art and business.

As Founder and Executive Director of Little Black Pearl, Monica has received recognition from a great number of individuals and organizations that include Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Columbia College Chicago’s Paul Berger Arts Entrepreneurship Award (1999), Systems Development Integration, the Illinois Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, 100 Black Men, Essence Magazine (December 2002 & Special Collectors Edition 2004/05), Black Enterprise Magazine (May 2008), Crain’s Business Magazine, African American Arts Alliance of Chicago, INOMA Community Service Award and Connections Black Pearl Award.

Monica has received the prestigious recognition as one of the six 2004 Chicagoans of the Year by Chicago Magazine (January 2005 issue). UPTOWN Chicago magazine featured Monica in the 2005 and 2008 winter issues for her dedication to excellence in the non-profit arena; and the Chicago Defender honored her as one of 50 Women of Excellence. Most recently, she was honored as one of 30 Community Hero’s by LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program, awarded the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 2009 “Woman of Power” award and the Xi Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi eta Sorority, Inc. 2009 “Women of the Year.”

In addition to the phenomenal leadership that Monica provides to the staff of Little Black Pearl, she contributes her time to boards and committees representing various important causes such as Board of Directors for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, where she serves as Chairman for the Missions and Programs Committee. In addition, Monica currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for HyPa (Hyde Park Alliance for Arts and Culture).

Monica’s past affiliations include Board of Directors for the Women’s Policy Board for Jane Adams Hull House Association, the African American Arts Alliance, City of Chicago Grant Park Musical Festival, Audience Development and Diversity Committee for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Columbia College Chicago Arts and Youth Committee, Shore Bank Advisory Council for African American Women Business Owners, City of Chicago Cultural Facilities Task Force, The Society Inc., Chicago Chapter for the Arts, The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and City Arts Grant Advisory Panel. www.blackpearl.org