Founder, Black Citizen
Theo Ellington is the founder of Black Citizen and the current interim executive director of the historic Ruth Williams Opera House in San Francisco. Black Citizen exists to uplift, invest in, and resource the next generation of changemakers through microgrants, curated in-person events, and personal development coaching. The Ruth Williams Opera House, San Francisco’s oldest theater, supports artists and creatives in the heart of the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood.
Both organizations use trust-based philanthropy to provide a platform for groups of Black changemakers and cultural architects to expand their professional capacity through self-care and professional coaching. This is intended to sharpen their social agency, allowing them to transform their local communities and push back against oppressive systems.