Sumayyah Ali (Formerly Ash Nash)

Socioeconomic Activist and Black Arts & Organizer

Creative at heart, she leaned into the complex journey to uncover and address the very systems that hinder Black artists from thriving and narrating to their communities. By investigating public data she concluded that access to financial literacy resources, non-black founded and led organizations have profited from the tireless labor endured and created by Black cultures. 

Her vision, leadership and mission to leverage the economic playing field for Black artists has irrefutably ensured fine art and public art spaces for Black creators to archive the imagery and narratives of their cultures while accessing vital resources for them to sustain careers. Her bold storytelling through Power Haus Creative public and fine art projects expose the prevalence of anti-Black racism in everyday life and its adverse impact on quality of life for Black cultures, globally. By investigating and analyzing public data, her teams are able to specifically identify the resources needed to alleviate the burdens of systemic and socioeconomic injustices. It is the sole reason for the creation of the Power Haus Creative Residency Program and Studio iterations which educate artists on the 'Business of Art' and arm them with financial literacy resources.  

She is a community builder with a core focus on bettering the quality of life for Black creators and the communities they serve.  

Ali served as adjunct professor at Emory University's Inaugural 2020 Art and Social Justice cohort teaching Film, Media and the Art of Social Justice. Thinking globally and acting locally Conceptualized and organized a citywide mural movement which garnered the support of Colin Kaepernick. Through the vessel of activism work she became Chief of Operations for International Human Rights Activist, Author and former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul Rauf. 

Her dedication to activism, the arts and to be a servant of community earned her the hand selected 'Arts Seat' by Mayor Andre Dickens as a Commissioner for the City of Atlanta Board of Urban Design Commission. She has years of dedication to on non-profit sector executive board’s of the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) founded by Dr.Fahamu Pecou, MINT Gallery and the Atlanta Task Force for Philanthropic Reparations. 

Find Sumayyah online:

Instagram: @powerhauscreative