Founders Circle

The Founders Circle is a group of founding members who collaborate in supporting Shades, a vocal group at Yale University that performs music of the African Diaspora—music we feel is relevant, sustaining, and important to sing. Currently the Founders Circle sponsors the Founders Brunch, an annual event that brings the youngest members of Shades together with the oldest members. The Circle also provides seed money for the Bridges Program designed to support outreach. The Circle has supported the development of a number of small projects over the years like the African Diaspora Playlist, the Shades History Book Film Interviews, and the development of this website. We invite all Founding Members to join us and keep the Circle strong.

Current Circle

Tonya Farmer Armstrong ’92
Kimberly Dixon ’92
Michelle Meertens ’92
Titilayo Ngwenya ’92