John Buckelew is a retired oilfield executive and musician residing in Vermilion parish. He is a founding member of The Nouveau String Band and the all star musicians ensemble band, Stop the Clock Cowboy Jazz. As an active musician and mentor, John recognizes and appreciates the value of Arts in education and how they benefit our community and our quality of life here in Acadiana.

Sami Parbhoo is a community member and cultural strategist in Lafayette, Louisiana. Formerly the President of Festival International de Louisiane, he also was the Bicentennial Coordinator for Lafayette Parish, leading the year-long celebration that honored 200 years of Lafayette’s rich history and diverse cultural identity.

In his current role as music liaison for Lafayette Consolidated Government, Sami is spearheading the Lafayette Music Census and related ecosystem strategy, a regional initiative involving city and state partners aimed at revitalizing the local music scene and creating more sustainable opportunities for musicians and venues.
Sami has a strong passion for the music and arts and always advocates for growth in these sectors that benefits all residents.

Karen is an Attorney and a Community Advocate and Leader. She is an avid supporter of the arts with a love for music and dance. Karen is committed to using influence to inspire leadership and connect people and ideas for positive community change. She has been married to Adrian King for over 30 years and is the proud Mom of Peyton and John.

Peggy is a retired high school Speech and Debate teacher and Educational Developer. She is active in the Acadiana theater community, and performed in the original musical “Ms. Warbucks” at the ACA last summer. Peggy moved to Lafayette in 2020, loves volunteering at festivals and events of all kinds, and is especially appreciative of the rich arts and music culture in her new home town!

Alyson is a true Lafayette local and a lifelong lover of everything that makes our culture so creative and fun! For over 20 years she’s been sharing her love of movement by teaching yoga all across Acadiana. She also leads lively Chair-Based exercise classes with the Lafayette Council on Aging, and when she’s not on the mat, she’s busy helping people find their dream homes as a Realtor with Keaty Real Estate. You’ll often spot her at Basin Arts—sometimes teaching, sometimes just dancing her heart out in the “Wednesdays We Dance” class. And if she’s not moving, she’s probably downtown with her fabulous 10-year-old daughter Frances, enjoying gelato or sipping lavender lemonade.