Jeffrey Dorsey (he/him) is a creative, arts administrator, and meditation and mindfulness practitioner/teacher.

For nearly thirty years Dorsey has worked in the arts nonprofit sector, supporting grassroots arts and community initiatives in Pittsburgh’s East End. He helped incarnate The Penn Avenue Arts Initiative (1997) and then was hired to manage it (1999), including co-creating Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn (2002). He became Director at The Friendship Development Associates (2006) and helped create a development strategy designed to improve the link between residential and commercial corridors along Penn Avenue from Lawrenceville to East Liberty called The East End Partnership (2007). In his current role as Executive Director at Union Project (2009) he has co-led an organizational turnaround resulting in UP being invited into the Arts Financial Cohort (2013) along with four other arts organizations, which has helped make UP more sustainable.

Dorsey’s nonprofit related work has resulted in job creation, equity opportunities, and increased opportunities for people from diverse racial backgrounds, experiences, and socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue their dreams. As a result, Dorsey has received numerous awards including being named a “40 Under 40” from Pittsburgh Magazine (1999). He most recently became a recipient of the Executive Sabbatical Award (2024-25) which allowed him time to focus on and prepare this exhibit.

Prior to working as an arts administrator, Dorsey worked as an arts educator and resident artist, and enjoyed touring schools and festivals around the state doing “live-painting” as part of Story Stew (Gateway to the Arts)—a troupe that also included an actress, musician and dancer.

Dorsey is married and has two adult children and two cats. His art career took a back seat for many years while he helped raise their children, renovated their 125 year-old Victorian home, and took on various roles at the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh (2009-2021), including soccer coach, Parent Association Chair, and Board Chair.

Dorsey’s study in the healing arts and anti-racist, trauma-informed leadership parallels and intersects his various arts-related roles. He practices yoga, vipassana meditation (which means to see clearly), is a student of the Dharma, and last year started teaching Guided Meditation and Mindfulness both on-line and in person.