The Team
Jessica Adams
Producing Artistic Director.
A Note from the Founder
There is a specific kind of silence that happens when you feel your story has been erased.
I know that silence. I have walked paths in my life where my voice was taken away, where the walls felt high and the options felt few. But in those moments of shadow, I learned something undeniably true: Art is how we survive.
I founded Standing Elk Collective because I believe that creativity is the ultimate act of freedom. For the Native community here in South Dakota, we know struggle. We know the statistics. But we also know the humor, the resilience, and the beauty that the rest of the world rarely gets to see.
This company is my answer to that silence. It is a promise to the next generation of Lakota artists that they will not have to wait for permission to speak. We are building a stage big enough for our history, our language, and our future.
Whether you are here to watch, to donate, or to perform—you are welcome here.
Board Members
Jessica Adams
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President & Producing Artisitic Director
Alexis Novotny
(Board Member)
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Hi my name is Alexis Novotny. I have been an active advocate for the LGBTGIA2S community for 10 years now. I first started with the Black Hills Center for Equality and in 2023 I started my own non profit organization Transcendence to help transgender individuals in the Black Hills with micro grants for name changes, and hold a monthly support group. We also help individuals get in contact with transgender friendly health care professionals. I was one of Advocate Magazines 2020 Champions of Pride recipient for the state of SD. I have been married to my wife since 2001 and we have a son together. In my free time I enjoy going to concerts, playing golf, and spending time with my friends and family.
Paula Zavitz
(Board Member)
● My husband and I moved to South Dakota in 1990 with the Air Force. I took care of our children and volunteered in the schools and at church for a number of years. In 2008 I took a job as the Director of Children’s Ministries at the Presbyterian Church in Rapid City, where my job was to provide a community for children and families. When I retired from that position, I joined the board for the Black Hills Center for Equality where I continue the work to build community and I began to attend Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, where we promise each week to be repairers of the breach. These ideas guided my decision to join the board for Standing Elk Collective.
Amber Boateng
(Treasurer)
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I’ve had the privilege of serving the Black Hills community as a licensed cosmetologist and business owner. My journey in hair and skin care, along with my continued education and passion for aesthetics, naturally led me to electrolysis — a field I truly love. Helping people feel confident and comfortable in their own skin is the most rewarding part of what I do. I believe in creating a welcoming, supportive space where every client feels seen, heard, and cared for. When I’m not in the treatment room, you’ll often find me enjoying and supporting local theater productions. Being part of a vibrant community — both professionally and personally — means the world to me.
Sasha Ness
•Board Member
● I'm a graphic designer and marketing strategist based in West Fargo, North Dakota, with over a decade of experience in branding, visual communication, and business development. As the founder of SaHawk Creative, I have partnered with small businesses to build strong brand identities and construct strategic marketing plans. What I bring to Standing Elk Collective is my production expertise, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to creative collaboration, supporting initiatives that strengthen community through design and community.
Dave Sanford
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Board Member