Whitney Weston Co-founded Greenway Arts Alliance, along with Pierson Blaetz in 1997. She is a lifelong activist, committed to keep the arts and the community working together. Both within and outside the Greenway, Whitney has produced and performed in numerous shows and has earned recognition from the NAACP, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly, and the 2011 Women in Theatre Red Carpet Award.
Pierson Blaetz co-founded Greenway Arts Alliance, along with Whitney Weston` in 1997. He has spent a lifetime bridging the worlds of art and business. As a social entrepreneur he has founded three businesses including “Free Time,” a volunteer placement service, “InfoLink,” an information retrieval service and Greenway. As an artist, Pierson has produced, directed and performed in numerous film and theatre projects and has earned recognition from The Drama Circle Critics, NAACP, Garland Awards, LA Weekly and way back when The Drama-Logue Award for best male performance. Pierson has been recognized for outstanding service by the Mayors office, LA City Council, and LAUSD’s School Board and administrators union. Current Board memberships include The Melrose Business Improvement District, Friends of Fairfax and Greenway Arts Alliance.
Natalie (she/her) is an artist and gardener, with over a decade of event planning and management experience.
Natalie has been part of Greenway Arts Alliance since 2011, establishing the market’s vendor booking systems and curating the merchandise in the market. She oversees projects with the Vendor Team and the Music & Social Media Team. Natalie oversees in market programming, and manages MTP’s special events, collaborations, non-profit and school group programs, sponsorships, media inquiries and marketing.
J. Scott has been managing operations for Melrose Trading Post since 2012. His expertise in handling logistics was heightened by his military experience. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he was qualified as Airborne and Ranger for the Army, served in the Gulf War (1991), and received an honorable discharge with the rank as Captain. Currently, he is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has acted in numerous film and television projects.
Patrick began working for Greenway in 2010, and what started out as a part-time gig has become a labor of love. He manages the MTP Vendor Team. His professional experience includes 20+ years in customer service, event management, sales and bookkeeping. Patrick loves the outdoors and nature photography so on his down time he’ll likely be on a hiking trail somewhere or at the beach.
Jonathan began his journey with Greenway while he was a student at Fairfax High! He was originally hired as one of the first student workers at the Melrose Trading Post in 1997 and has been working at the market since, now as the Afternoon Operations Manager. After graduating from Fairfax High, Jonathan went on to college and worked in the entertainment industry. Currently, he is working as the materials manager at Glendale Memorial Hospital. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys reading, volunteering, and fitness.
Throughout the years, I have cultivated a deep appreciation for organizations that unite people together in efforts to celebrate art, music, and culture simultaneously. I started off in the MTP community as a regular patron, and eventually started my own online vintage home decor and furniture shop, inspired by the unique craft of each vendor at MTP. My academic and professional experience include graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a BS in Public Health Sciences and a minor in Psychology, where I also served as a Student Orientation Leader for incoming students and their families, and served in multiple non-profit organizations and philanthropies.
Martin has been programming the live music and entertainment series at Melrose Trading Post since 2015. He loves being able to showcase Los Angeles’s rich music scene at the MTP stages, as well as bringing in touring acts from around the world. All the musicians he schedules love performing for the great MTP crowds and supporting the arts programs at Fairfax High School.
Martin is a touring musician as well, and is often on the road with a range of acts including Yuna, Postmodern Jukebox, Amber Coffman, Haley Reinhart, Casey Abrams, GIVERS and more, but makes time to write and arrange instrumental Jazz music for his own ensembles. He recently released his first EP Quintet Live at Bluewhale.
Cira is a recent graduate of the UCLA School of Communications. As someone passionate about the arts and a longtime patron of MTP, she is very excited to be a part of the Greenway staff. She started with MTP as the Marketing and Community Engagement Intern through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Summer Internship Program and later as the Social Media & Promotions Associate. She contributes graphics and illustrations, assists with promotions, marketing projects and captures photos and videos of the market, while helping with communications across Greenway Arts Alliance.
Mahagany is an alum of the University of Texas at Austin and became involved with Greenway Arts Alliance through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Summer Internship Program. She is now the coordinator for the Melrose Trading Post Gift Shop. She is also an artist, barista, and the host of our Melrose Stories Interview Series!
Lila Rose is currently working with Greenway through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Summer Internship Program. After studying economics and psychology at Scripps College, she was excited to put her skills to use as Greenway’s Marketing and Community Engagement Intern. Working with Natalie Jackson, she is greatly enjoying the opportunity to champion the arts and learn marketing skills simultaneously. In her position, she supports Melrose Trading Post’s weekly flea market and special events. In her spare time, she pursues creative writing projects.