Kennon Jackson, chief of staff for the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, has been selected to serve as a LEAD 2026 Conference Content Committee Proposal Reviewer—a highly competitive national role entrusted with shaping the conference’s educational programming.

Jackson was chosen as one of nine arts and cultural leaders from across the country to review and score session proposals for LEAD 2026, working in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and peers at the forefront of accessibility and inclusion in the arts sector.

“As arts organizations work to deepen public impact, accessibility cannot be a side conversation—it must be embedded in how we plan, program and welcome the community,” said Jackson in a press release. “I’m honored to contribute to LEAD 2026 and to help elevate sessions that provide practical value, spark innovation and expand equitable participation across cultural spaces.”

The LEAD Conference brings together professionals from across the arts and culture ecosystem to advance accessible practices, strengthen organizational capacity and foster networks committed to full inclusion. As a proposal reviewer, Jackson will help ensure the LEAD 2026 program reflects strong field leadership, actionable strategies and diverse perspectives that support arts organizations nationwide.

Jackson’s selection also underscores the Arts Council’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, barrier-free cultural participation and sector leadership that connects local practice to national standards.