Board of Directors
Founder, President + Creative Director
Dani Hilliard is the Founder/CEO and Creative Director of Unique Union, Inc., a local gathering place at the intersection of applied art, urban culture, mental wellness, and creative community in her native city, Washington, DC. As Creative Director, she is responsible for creating, overseeing, producing, and managing all of the nonprofit's creative endeavors-- relating to marketing, development, fundraising, workshop programming and facilitation.
Dani has worked as a professional in the not-for-profit sector for over 5 years, after 12 full years of hospitality experience in the Washington, DC area, but Dani's passion for the Arts can be traced back to her years in Catholic grammar school, where she spent significant time working in advanced art classes, studying ballet/tap and honing her skills on the B-flat clarinet. Dani went on to pursue her Bachelors of Science degree in Photography at the Art Institute of Philadelphia in 2007. Today, as a Teaching Artist, she specializes in applied art and the facilitation of group craft activities.
Dani is setting a new standard for how to maintain emotional expression through classical art techniques in a communal setting. Her commitment to creative wellness is changing the way we practice self-care, connect with fellow creatives, and identify urban culture.
Outside of the office, Dani enjoys creating digital illustrations with Autodesk Sketchbook, meditating, baking cookies with her kiddos who are 13 and 10 years old, or snuggling with her cat, Lady.
Secretary + Treasurer
Dr. Novella Bridges works for the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Nuclear Non-Proliferation Research and Development’s Office of Proliferation Detection. She is the Senior Program Manager for Plutonium Production Detection Portfolio.
Dr. Bridges spent 18 years at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and has extensive experience leading research in radioisotope composites for cancer, radiochemistry separations, reduction on emissions on large vehicles and locomotives, production of hydrogen for fuel cells and development of novel catalytic systems. She has worked with two agencies within the Department of Homeland Security - US Customs and Border Protection and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. She has a B.S. (Chemistry) from Jackson State University; and a Ph.D. (Inorganic Chemistry) from LSU. Bridges was named one the 24 Most Distinguished Women in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering for the International Year of Chemistry and several other awards. She holds several invention reports and one patent.
Personally, Bridges is the owner of Bridging Youth To STEM, LLC. She works with organizations to develop stem-based learning and curriculum development for service-learning programs. She has previously sat on boards of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) high schools, STEM-based charter schools and STEM-focused organizations dedicated to education advancement and career advancement for minorities in STEM fields.
Bridges still finds the time to organize an annual science engagement for young ladies, judge graduate fellowship applications, and volunteers as a mentor/tutor with young ladies. She is originally from Detroit, Michigan and the youngest of five siblings.
Board Member
Terri Jean-Charles has an extensive background in marketing with over 25 years as a marketing professional with various corporations such as Canon U.S.A., General Electric, Sprint Communications, ACS Federal Solutions, and Oakwood Worldwide with core competencies in customer marketing, government and strategic marketing, brand development, and digital marketing.
Terri has overseen and managed the marketing and communications initiatives and assisted in the business development and client relations initiatives for various organizations. Terri holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Hampton University in Hampton, VA. Terri values the Golden Rule and cares greatly about the environment and self-health.
Terri enjoys any and all things relating to color. She’s particularly interested in the study of the color theory and she’s interested in the study of architecture, and interior design. Additionally, she enjoys a good movie and loves to experience great food from all cultures.
Board Member
Robert Hahn has more than 15 years of success across multiple nonprofit management platforms, including Development, Fundraising, and Board Member. His broad areas of expertise include communications, collaboration, fundraising, strategic planning & execution, donor engagement, leadership, global benevolence, sponsor and large donorship development, team building, coaching & mentoring, public speaking, communication, community outreach, and writing.
Robert has lived in Washington DC, Puerto Rico, New York, Florida and Virginia, giving him empathy, the ability to connect with a broad range of people as well as the ability to lead teams to great achievement.
Robert holds a Master’s degree in Theology and he enjoys investigating all forms of faith and beliefs. He is also a life-long musician and composer having appeared on many independent recordings as well as having one his compositions nominated for a DC Wammie Award.
In his spare time he enjoys jamming at local blues clubs, reading and playing with his grandchildren.
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