Organization Description
We describe our organization in this way:
Department of Public Transformation is a nonprofit organization that develops creative strategies for increased community connection, civic engagement, and equitable participation in rural places.
Our 150-year vision is one where rural communities across the country acknowledge, support, and integrate art, artists, and cultural workers as vital contributors to economic, community, civic, and social life.
We believe in the power of rural creativity. We believe that rural people and places have the answers they need to address community challenges and opportunities, but economies of extraction and narratives of deficit have fragmented many of our communities. This prevents us from reimagining our rural spaces and sharing the knowledge, skills, and resources we have to dream and build an equitable and just future. We seek to support rural communities in identifying and leveraging resources through artist-led, creative, cross-disciplinary, and inclusive programs. We believe in celebrating rural culture and cultural workers by uplifting small-town stories and connecting people to each other and their places. In doing so, we work alongside arts and cultural workers to shift damaging dominant narratives of what it means to live and work in rural America.
Name and References
Our organization’s official name is Department of Public Transformation—please note that it does not include “the” before the name. In written and spoken references, use Department of Public Transformation without a preceding article. For example: “Department of Public Transformation...” not “The Department of Public Transformation…”
The YES! House is stylized with “The” intentionally capitalized as part of the official name. In all written and spoken references, please use the full name as The YES! House, including the capitalized “The.” For example: “The YES! House...” not “YES! House…”
Logo Downloads
To download any of the following images, click the image, then right click and choose to “Save Image As,” you will then be prompted to download and save the image on your device.
We kindly request that no design alterations be made to our logo variations in either print or digital media.
Logo Guide
Department of Public Transformation’s logo consists of the circular area that forms the “road” and the words "Department of Public Transformation". Both elements must be used together. Always enlarge or reduce the logo proportionately so it is not stretched or distorted. Space should be left around the logo that is at least the size of the circle, as shown.
Color Palette
Department of Public Transformation’s color palette and brand voice is warm, creative, committed, approachable, supportive, and celebratory. The tone is consistently encouraging and collaborative.
Staff leadership headshots and bios
ASH HANSON, Creative Executive Officer
Ashley Hanson (she/her) has 15 years of experience working with rural communities to activate stories, connect neighbors, and exercise collective imagination. She is a member of the Center for Performance and Civic Practice Leadership Circle and she was an Artist-in-Residence in both the Planning Department at the City of Minneapolis and with the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, where she employed creative community engagement strategies for equitable participation in urban and rural planning and development processes. Previously, she was the Program Director for the Minnesota Theater Alliance—where she managed statewide regional networks and resource sharing—and the Program Director for Public Art Saint Paul—where she produced large-scale participatory public art events and projects, including the Saint Paul City Artist-in-Residence program. In addition to her work with DoPT, she is the founder of PlaceBase Productions, a theater company that creates original, site-specific musicals celebrating small-town life. She holds an MA in Applied Theater with a focus on Rural Community Development, and she was named an Obama Foundation Fellow and a Bush Fellow for her work with rural communities. She believes deeply in the power of play and exclamation points!
HANNAH K. HOLMAN, Creative Operating Officer
Hannah Holman (she/they) has over 15 years of experience as a nonprofit leader, including in financial management, human resources, fundraising and grant reporting, evaluation, people- and community-centered program design, governance, and event production. She is a poetic playground builder and spreadsheet storyteller leaping between art and administration in a single bound. Hannah has worked with rural, remote, urban, and suburban communities and in organizations of various life cycles, from 40-year-old institutions to growing start-ups. Previously, she has served as the Program Manager and Interim Executive Director with the Minnesota Theater Alliance serving over 500 performing arts organizations statewide through technical assistance, network-building, and geographic and industry-wide advocacy; Project Manager for the Rural Arts & Culture Summit and Recovery Network with Springboard for the Arts planning a sold out multi-day gathering for 360 attendees with 93 presenters at 13+ rural venues; Associate Managing Director with the Loft Literary Center providing fundraising, accessibility, human resources, and capacity-building at one of the nation's largest literary centers, and Producing Artistic Director of Umbrella Collective supporting a 15-year theatrical company through over 20 artistic productions. Hannah loves making spreadsheets, organizing junk drawers, and snuggling with her pup, Poppy.
Social Media LINKS
Social Media LINKS
Media Contact
For any questions regarding the use of our logos, how best to include us in credits/media, or to submit a Media inquiry, please contact Elisa Franco, Communications Coordinator, at Elisa@PublicTransformation.org—or submit the Contact Form below.