With over a decade in government, philanthropy, and community-based practice, Katherine Bray-Simons brings a systems thinking, research-driven approach to designing and leading innovative cross-sector initiatives that advance equitable community development. Based in Los Angeles, Katherine consults on local initiatives, including relief for artists affected by the 2025 wildfires and community planning for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Most recently, Katherine was appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration to serve as Special Assistant for Chair Initiatives at the National Endowment for the Arts, where she worked alongside NEA Chair, Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson and senior leadership to advance a national cultural policy agenda that positions arts and culture as vital to addressing complex challenges and envisioning new possibilities. In this capacity, Katherine played a key role in launching new initiatives that integrate arts into federal programs across policy areas including environmental justice, public health, transportation, and emergency management.

Previously, Katherine was Associate Director, Policy & Systems Change for the 10-Minute Walk Campaign with the Trust for Public Land and Adjunct Instructor at USC's Price School of Public Policy, where she created and taught a course that equips urban planning students with a practical understanding of cross-sector arts integration. In prior service at the National Endowment for the Arts, Katherine led the agency’s signature Our Town program, managing a dynamic portfolio of more than 700 creative placemaking investments nationwide and launching a first-of-its-kind technical assistance initiative to help local governments and community-based organizations leverage lasting systems change.

Katherine holds master’s degrees in urban planning and public art curatorial practice from the University of Southern California. When she’s not working, Katherine enjoys exploring LA’s extraordinary abundance of cultural offerings and experiences with her family and tending to her garden of native plants. She is a proud board member at Clockshop, an LA-based nonprofit that works with artists to build community and climate resilience.