Arts Leadership Award Program

Representing Alameda County Supervisorial District Four —

Gerald Thompson and Winifred Thompson, of Castro Valley, are the award recipients for the Fourth District of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Gerald (Gerry) Thompson and Winifred (Winnie) Thompson are arts community leaders who have worked with A.R.T., Inc. in Castro Valley, the Hayward Arts Council, and many other arts and cultural organizations throughout the area. Gerry and Winnie encourage and support local artists and arts organizations to help enrich the whole community. They are also both visual artists and exhibit their paintings at many local venues. In 2015, Gerry and Winnie became board members of A.R.T., Inc. where they work closely with the Adobe Art Center in Castro Valley to help coordinate the annual Members’ Show and the annual Area Artists’ Juried Exhibition. Since 2015, Winnie has served as the A.R.T., Inc. vice-president of events. Together, Gerry and Winnie plan and coordinate free artist demonstrations at the Adobe Art Center. For many years, Winnie has empowered community members to write their own life stories which she shares through her self-published series titled “My Name is America.” From 2014-2016, Gerry was A.R.T., Inc.’s gallery curator of the Baywood Court Community Center. Gerry and Winnie are also long-time board members of Hayward Arts Council and in 2016, they served as the Council’s co-presidents. They were an instrumental part of Hayward Arts Council’s move to its new home at the Hayward Adult School. In 2017, Gerry and Winnie were recipients of the Ruby Hearts of Hayward Award for their service to arts and the community.