PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER

Born and raised in New York, Eden relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1993, establishing roots in the industrial warehouse spaces of Bellevue’s BelRed neighborhood. This move set the stage for a journey of imagination and entrepreneurship. Eden had a vision to nurture talent and foster creativity within the community… he built Evolution Studios, a music rehearsal studio that quickly became a cornerstone of the local music scene and beyond.

Over the span of three decades, Eden's continued passion has left an indelible mark, focused on raising our next generation of creative thinkers and shaping a supportive environment for artistic growth and excellence.

Today, Eden is acclaimed not only as a small business owner and co-founder of the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance, he’s an advocate for the arts, whose impact resonates throughout the community.

BOARD CHAIR, TREASURER, CO-FOUNDER

Maria is a licensed architect, LEED Accredited Professional, and operational strategist with a wealth of experience in architecture and real estate development. With a knack for both design and project management, she has a deep understanding of entitlement and building processes. Through her consultancy firm, Matcha Agency, Maria guides clients through the complexities of design and entitlement logistics, including feasibility studies, zoning analysis, and consultant selection and management.

Beyond her professional achievements, Maria is a dedicated community member. Maria has contributed to the City of Bellevue’s Arts Commission, including as Chair, sat on the Wilburton Commercial Area Study Citizens Advisory Committee, and was a member of the 4Culture Public Art Advisory Committee. Maria finds joy in giving back, mentoring others, and participating in advisory roles. Her most cherished moments include volunteering as a manicurist for the elderly at St. Luke’s Hospital in NYC during her grad school years.

CO-FOUNDER, SECRETARY

Sandy is a strategic communications professional who finds joy, hope and inspiration through the people behind the place, telling stories of the Bellevue community and beyond.

They graduated from Washington State University in 2021 and earned a role as the communications/marketing intern at the Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) right out of college. They have now grown into the role of communications manager at the BDA and found a passion for community engagement and placemaking. They also sit on Visit Bellevue's Advisory Board on behalf of the BDA to help provide guidance and feedback to further their mission of stimulate economic growth and development in Bellevue’s visitor economy and inspire memorable visitor experiences.

Sandy joined the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance as one of the founding board members in 2023, continuing their work as a city builder on the Eastside. In their spare time, you can find them at the RockBox Fitness gym or painting at home.

BOARD MEMBER

From an early age, Marci Marra discovered her passion for the arts, finding solace and creative expression through painting and drawing. Her innate artistic talents led her to pursue formal education in the arts, culminating in her attendance at art school, where she honed her skills and nurtured her artistic vision.

Despite her deep-rooted love for the arts, Marci ventured into the world of business, and spent the majority of her career as a management consultant and a transformational coach and former member of the Forbes Coaches Council. During her career, she worked with organizations to transform their businesses and individuals to define and achieve their goals.

Marci remains a committed leader with a passion for inspiring people to innovate and make impactful changes. She made her own impactful change when she retired from consulting in 2023 and reinvented herself as a knitwear designer and joined the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance board in 2024.

BOARD MEMBER

Era is the Managing Director of Theatre33, a bilingual nonprofit community theater in the heart of the BelRed Arts District.  She formally joined the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance board in January of 2025, though she has seen the amazing work of the group since its inception. With a solid background in academic research (leukemia biomarker discovery studies) and project management, Era combines the precision of science and the creativity of the arts to lead Theatre33 on its journey as Bellevue's only independent award-winning live theater.

Era brings extensive experience in nonprofit management and arts-based community building. She is passionate about using the arts as a medium to bridge cultures and promote inclusivity. She is a member of Bellevue's Diversity Advisory Network and has contributed to 4Culture's Doors Open grant program as a reviewer.  She loves teaching and serves as a mentor to youth in academic research and in theater, teaching classes and stage managing productions. She can be frequently seen on the stage at Theatre33 in productions for kids and adults.  In her spare time, she loves making jewelry, gardening, camping and rock hounding.