NPN Celebrates 20 Years with Alec De León

 •  6 minute read

Alec De León, NPN National Programs Senior Specialist

Alec De León found his way to NPN 20 years ago through a classified ad in Gambit, New Orleans’ alternative weekly newspaper. At the time, the NPN team consisted of only a handful of people. One of them, Stanlyn Brevé, had put together an orientation handbook to replace the stack of old NPN directories that she’d been given on her first day, and she shared it with Alec. Even so, it took a while before Alec could make sense of NPN’s inner workings. “For the first six months, I couldn’t really exactly describe what NPN did,” he says. “It was so complicated and there were so many layers, but I knew the work was thoughtful and intentional.”

As he joined his coworkers on Partner visits in different regions of the country, he started to better understand NPN’s role in sustaining a network of presenting organizations for the performing arts. And he got to personally know the passionate and warm-hearted people behind the organizations.

In Columbus, Ohio, Alec remembers sharing a cab with F. John Herbert of Legion Arts (a former Partner), who he had never met before, and being charmed by his colorful stories.

One year, after NPN’s annual conference ended, Ed Noonan from The Myrna Loy surprised the NPN board during their meeting with an original poem he had composed about the experience.

And when NPN shared office space with Junebug Productions at CAC, Junebug’s John O’Neal gave a nervous Alec advice on performing with his band at New Orleans’ Fringe Festival. “He said, ‘Alec, it’s just the Fringe Fest, you know? You can just stand there and do this.’ And he stood still like a statue for a full 30 seconds.”

But there’s a specific moment in those early years where Alec says he suddenly understood just how weird and fun working at NPN can be. He was in New York staffing the NPN booth at the Association of Presenters (now APAP) conference, and he attended a performance by Big Art Group:

“There were giant video screens, and pulsing strobe lights, and this huge sound system just blasting off towards the finale. There were naked people with bags on their heads. And then at the end of the performance, the crescendo, the lights are going, the sound is deafening, and this huge, black, plastic bag starts filling up in front of the stage like a pan of Jiffy Pop popcorn, and it starts to engulf the first couple of rows. And I was there on the first row, so it was covering me. And then the performance was over. The lights stop and the sound stops and the bag starts to deflate.

“And I thought, oh, this is my job, to see things like this.”

Please join NPN in celebrating Alec’s tenure with us over the past 20 years.

A selfie of three people smiling outdoors with a tall, slender stone monument in the background against a clear blue sky. On the left, a man wears a hat and glasses. In the center, a woman with curly hair wears a yellow tank top and sunglasses. On the right is Alec De León, a man with a dark beard and wearing a baseball cap and a red plaid shirt.
Alec De León, a man with a dark thick beard and wearing a yellow plaid shirt under a blue quilted jacket, stands in a stone courtyard. Behind him is a historic stone building within Edinburgh Castle, which features arched windows and decorative gold elements above the windows.
Two men sit across from each other at a wooden table in what appears to be a hotel lobby or event space. The man on the left, Alec De León, wears a dark gray sweater over a blue collared shirt and has a conference badge clipped to his clothing. The man on the right wears glasses and a dark sweater, resting his chin on his hand. A small potted succulent sits on the table between them. In the blurred background, there is an arched doorway and a lit Christmas tree.
Alec De León, with a thick dark beard and wearing a white t-shirt and tan shorts, plays a light blue electric guitar while seated. On the workbench in front of him is a row of guitar effects pedals with glowing lights and connected by cables. A bass guitar hangs on the wall behind him, and various storage bins and equipment are visible on shelves to his right.

“Alec is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. He treats everyone with respect and is always ready to lend a helping hand. Alec is a great storyteller and often the source of roaring laughter during staff meals. If we compared the NPN staff to a recipe’s list of ingredients, Alec would be the bouquet garni — a bundle of herbs used to infuse flavor in a pot slowly cooking on the stove. Over these 20 years, his presence has brought the perfect flavoring to the staff.

“Working with you has been truly wonderful, my friend!”

Stephanie Atkins

Director of Southern Programs

NPN

“I met Alec long before I started at NPN, when he started attending Artist Communities Alliance conferences, and we became fast pals. He was always quick to help moderate a table or carry materials, with a roll-up-your-sleeves good-natured competence Alec brings to everything at NPN. I know better than to name a favorite staff member for NPN’s Halloween shenanigans, but Alec and I crushed our Rocky Horror theme!”

Caitlin Strokosch

President and CEO

NPN

Caitlin Strokosch and Alec De León, in costume as characters from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," pose for a photo in front of a large poster for the movie featuring the iconic red lips from the opening credits. On the left, Caitlin is dressed as the character Columbia in a sparkly gold top hat, jacket, and fishnet stockings. On the right, Alec is dressed as the character Eddie, with white face paint, dark shadows around his eyes, and a long horizontal incision mark across his forehead.
Alec De León, a bearded man in a light blue blazer and a checkered shirt, smiles while holding up a bright blue cocktail in a martini glass at a table. Beside him, a woman with short dark hair, wearing glasses and a black polka-dot dress, is partially visible. The background is a soft-focus restaurant scene with other patrons and staff.
A close-up shot of two people at a meeting. In the foreground, a woman with dark hair, wearing a red long-sleeved shirt, has her hand to her chin in a thoughtful gesture as she holds a pen. Behind her, a clean-shaven Alec De León looks down toward the table, wearing a dark blue shirt over a white undershirt. They appear to be engaged in conversation.
A group of people pose for a selfie in an indoor setting during an event. On the left, with his face partially cut off by the edge of the photo, is Alec De León, a man with a dark beard. In the center is a smiling woman with dangling earrings, and on the right is a man with a goatee. In the background on the far right, a partial red sign with white text is visible.
A group of nine people pose for a formal staff portrait in a brightly lit, open-plan art gallery or office space with light wooden flooring and white walls. From left to right: a woman in a magenta sweater and tan pants; Alec De León in a black jacket and jeans; a woman with dark hair in a dark blazer; a woman in a vibrant pink velvet blazer and dark skirt; a woman in a cream-colored turtleneck sweater; a woman in a dark shirt and patterned scarf; a woman with curly hair wearing a brown cardigan and jeans; a woman in a bright yellow top and brown pants; and a man in a black velvet blazer and jeans.

“What can I say, El Señor Alec is a cool dude, one of the best arts administrators in the country. He is truly an arts partner, a listener, and a friend of all communities.”

Jorge Piña

Theater Arts Director

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

“Very helpful and professional. Alec is always there to answer any questions and address concerns. I agree he is very cool, I like that he is laid back while staying professional.”

Eugenio del Bosque

Program Operations Manager, CineFestival Director

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

A medium shot shows a diverse audience seated in a conference room. In the foreground, Alec De León, wearing a gray polo shirt and holding a cup, looks forward. A long name badge hanging from his neck includes the words "Staff" and "Artist." Two women are seated nearby in the row behind him. One wears a dark purple dress, and the other, wearing a white top and black scarf, is laughing. The background is filled with other attendees sitting in rows of chairs.
A close-up selfie shows four people smiling together indoors. In the foreground on the left is Alec De León, a young man with dark hair, and in the foreground on the lower right is a woman with light brown hair. Behind them stand two men; one in the center wears a dark beret, and the other, on the right, has a slight mustache and wears glasses.
A group of four people take a selfie together in front of a shop sign with Japanese text. In the foreground on the bottom right is Alec De León, a man with a dark beard. Behind him and to the left are three women smiling for the camera: one in the back right wearing a black head covering, and two in the front left wearing dark jackets. A large red paper lantern hangs on the left side of the frame.
A selfie of a smiling woman with blonde hair wearing sunglasses and Alex De León, a man with a dark beard and a striped beanie. They are outdoors on what appears to be the deck of a ferry, with a large yellow smokestack visible behind them against a bright, partly cloudy sky.

“I am so amazed by Alec’s dedication to supporting artists! No matter how many times I email him asking if we can ‘hop on the phone for a quick chat,’ he responds right away, makes it happen, and happily problem-solves whatever crazy scenario I throw at him. Alec, thank you so much for all the support over the years, and for your steadfast dedication to the arts! Happy NPN Anniversary!”

Vanessa Sanchez

Executive Artistic Director

La Mezcla

“Twenty years with one organization is a major accomplishment in any field — in ours, it’s a wonder. Alec’s tenure speaks to his tenacity and commitment to artists and their work. He’s so often the first person we see when we walk into an NPN space, and not unusually the last, always with that sly smile and arms open in greeting. He’s made us feel at home from our earliest days in the network to the present. Alec is the strong, steady presence that is vital in creative spaces and organizations. That kind of longevity, history, and commitment is so necessary and, too often, rare. Congratulations, Alec.”

Sherrine Azab & Jake Hooker

Co-Directors

A Host of People

G. Armando Silva

Executive Director

MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts)

G. Armando Silva

Executive Director

MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts)

“20 years of amazing magic moments! Crazy how time flies when you are having fun! About 20 years ago, we found ourselves dancing at an after-party, in awe of the artistry, people, and energy surrounding us. Collectively, we were actually shifting the world’s absurdity through art and shared practice.

“After all these years, I treasure our honest and unfiltered conversations. I am eternally grateful for your attention to detail, your appreciation for art that lingers in all the senses, and your generous support that goes above and beyond — even in the interwebs of confusion. While in person, your warm invitations to host a tour of local art, enjoy some amazing food, and dance the night away will always be magical lessons in how to be a proper host, regardless of the nitty-gritty. Those after-parties, late-night cocktails, and endless dreaming certainly help ease the heaviness of the crazy climate we all face on the daily.

“Thank you, Alec, for being my colleague, adventure buddy, and one I will always hold close to my heart. NPN and 7 Stages are who and what they are, in large part, because of who you are. Congrats, and onward we go with Alec inspired humor, persistence, and curiosity.

“With big love, Heidi and the 7 Stages family”

Heidi S. Howard

Artistic Director

7 Stages

A close-up, top-down selfie shows a bearded Alec De León smiling at the camera while leaning over a table at a restaurant. A large metal platter filled with fresh oysters on ice is centered on the table. Next to the platter is a dish of cooked oysters topped with toasted bread slices. The photographer is partially visible on the right, wearing glasses.
A whimsical photo board at a farm in Martha's Vineyard features two cutouts for people to poke their heads through, decorated as brown llamas. On the left, a bearded Alec De León smiles through the cutout, and on the right, a person smiles with their tongue sticking out through the other cutout. A wooden fence in the foreground is painted with the words "GREETINGS FROM THE FARM!"
A bearded Alec De León and another man are shown in profile seated side-by-side at a table covered with a white tablecloth, working on laptops. Alec, in the foreground, is wearing a floral-patterned short-sleeve shirt and dark pants, and typing on a laptop. Beside him, a man with long hair and wearing headphones is also focused on a laptop, with a sound mixing console positioned further along the table.
Three men are engaged in conversation indoors. Just left of center of the image is Alec De León, with a dark goatee, a dark shirt, and a light-colored scarf. Alec is smiling at the man on the right, who is taller than the other two men in the photo. He has a much fainter goatee and is wearing a gray jacket, and he is shown in profile. A third man, seen from behind and wearing a cap, is partially visible on the left. The scene is illuminated with purple-toned lighting.
A group of twelve people pose for a formal portrait on the steps of a brick building. In the front row, from left to right: a woman in a gray patterned top; a woman in a blue blazer over a floral dress; a clean-shaven Alec De León in a light gray polo shirt; a woman in a pink top; a woman in a purple dress; and a woman in a black-and-white striped shirt holding a small black dog in a red harness. In the back row, from left to right: a woman in a black top with a chunky green necklace; a man in a white star-patterned shirt; a woman in a white v-neck; a man in a plaid button-down; a woman with curly hair wearing glasses; a woman with a dark red beanie.
A group of people gather in an indoor space with white walls and a large, abstract purple-and-cream art installation. In the foreground on the right side of the image, near the wall with the abstract art, is a clean-shaven Alec De León wearing glasses, a gray fleece jacket with a zipper, and dark pants. Standing next to Alec and engaged in conversation with him is a woman with a black ponytail, wearing a blue denim jacket, a thick white scarf, and dark pants. Behind them, half a dozen other people are talking in small groups while holding drinks or small plates of food.

Share this post: