We are delighted to introduce these three new ACAC Commissioners:
Madeline Bates
Supported by her creative family with specialties in engineering, music, technical theatre design, historical preservation, and more, Bates came to Athens in 2011 to study Art History at the University of Georgia (B.A. 2015). While studying for her degree, she joined the opening staff at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. and established the brewery’s rotating art exhibitions and accompanying programming. These efforts culminated in Creature Comforts’ Get Artistic initiative, which supports local artists and arts nonprofits through events, exhibitions, funds, and advocacy. Bates has worked with hundreds of local artists to inspire joy, creativity, and empathy across communities through shared experiences with art. She is also a lifelong musician and currently plays percussion in two volunteer symphonic ensembles in Athens.
Patrice Green
Ms. Green is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she received master’s degrees in Library and Information Science and Public History. Her interests in both fields routinely overlap, and include archives and preservation management, museums and information institutions, cultural resources and heritage administration, and the laws, policies, and larger societal systems that govern those physical and intellectual bodies. With a decade of experience in music performance, she is also an advocate for music and music education in all its forms and interpretations.
Montu Miller
Montu is the Ambassador of the Athens HipHop Community, co-founder/chief operating officer for ATHfactor-Liberty Entertainment, a dedicated member of the East Athens Community Center Staff, and a father of five. He embraces his roles as a writer, poet, mentor, and community activist; he is an intellectual, a revolutionary and a community leader. Montu, with business partners Reggie Sykes and Khaalis Brooks, plans events and books entertainment through ATHfactor-Liberty Entertainment (ALE). He has produced countless songs and helped organize many HipHop events in Athens, including First Tuesday: World Famous Hip-Hop Night, Hip-Hop Don’t Stop Series (That Bar), ATHfest’s annual Many Faces of HipHop showcase, King of the Ring Emcee Battles, Athens HipHop Homecoming, Southern Gumbo Showcase, Tasty Tuesday weekly Hip-Hop Night, Beat Wars-beat battles and several weekly poetry nights. He has interests beyond music; he serves as community liaison for the Chess & Community Conference board and is on the Hot Corner Festival planning committee. He is committed to never stand idly by when much needs doing. He believes in a “boots on the ground” approach when it comes to solving community issues.
