Seventeen-time Grammy winner and philanthropist Alicia Keys has announced her new nonprofit organization, Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation.
According to the organization’s website, its mission is to collaborate “with local communities to build and share multi-disciplinary arts programming designed to spark creative potential.”
“With Kaleidoscope Dreams, we’re creating something that makes people feel seen, heard, and inspired to believe in their own stories,” says Keys, who also serves as board chair. “We want people to know: you belong here, your dreams matter, and your voice has power.”
Kaleidoscope Dreams is led by its recently appointed executive director, Asad Ali Jafri, who was previously the inaugural executive director at the South Asia Institute in Chicago, where he pioneered the institute’s strategy, programs and exhibitions.
“Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation is rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful force for connection, healing, and transformation,” says Jafri. “We’re proud to build programs that expand access to the arts and support communities that have long been left out of these opportunities. We’re creating spaces where dreams can take root and thrive.”
Inspired by her Tony Award-winning musical Hell’s Kitchen, the organization serves four pillars of engagement:
- Cultural Access: Free and curated access to Broadway shows, museums, and other cultural events
- Educational Enrichment: In-school arts education and classroom resources
- Professional Pathways: Fellowships, mentorship, internships, and creative training
- Community Engagement: Fostering belonging, joy, and connection through neighborhood programs
Since its founding in 2024, Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation has launched pilot programs and initiatives to support its mission, including its Hell’s Kitchen Fellowship in which 10 fellows trained in directing, choreography, music, design and other production fields with the musical’s creative team.
The Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation Board of Directors includes:
- Joseph Benincasa, president and CEO of Entertainment Community Fund
- Steve Chazaro, executive assistant and chief of staff for Joe Jonas
- Cole Cook, executive creative director of AK Worldwide
- Victoria Detres, RISE Theatre program manager at Maestra Music
- Deeksha Gaur, executive director of TDF
- Nicole Johnson, founder of Harriet Tubman Effect)
- Alicia Keys, global superstar and CEO of AK Worldwide
- Aaron Lustbader, partner at Foresight Theatrical
- Devon Miller, associate general manager at Foresight Theatrical
For more information about Alicia Keys’ Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation, visit kd-foundation.org.