MEET OUR TEAM
The Ground Zero Arts Foundation is guided by a dedicated team of founders and board members whose vision, passion, and expertise drive our mission forward. United by a deep respect for Mississippi Delta blues heritage and the communities that sustain it, they give their time, talent, and heart to preserve this cultural legacy for generations to come.
OUR BOARD
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Board Member
Amanda J. A. Johnson is the Founder and Executive Director of Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School, the first rural charter school in the Mississippi Delta, which she opened in 2018 and is growing to serve K–12 students by 2028. A former Teach For America corps member and experienced KIPP school leader, she completed the Building Excellent Schools Fellowship before launching Clarksdale Collegiate, where she has championed educational equity and community engagement. In addition to her role with the Ground Zero Arts Foundation board, Amanda serves on the boards of Southern Bancorp Community Partners and Spring Initiative, co-leads a 80-member Girl Scout troop, and is an active alumnae member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Clarksdale-Marks Chapter.
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Board Member
Robert Weinstein is the Owner-Operator of Auberge NOLA in New Orleans—an acclaimed, award-winning hostel—and expanded his hospitality reach in 2019 by opening Auberge Clarksdale in Mississippi, drawing on his lifelong passion for service rooted in growing up in his family's motel business facebook.com. As a board member of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation, Robert brings a dynamic blend of entrepreneurial vision, deep community connection, and a hospitality ethos centered on welcoming diverse visitors—all of which align with the Foundation’s mission to engage and nurture the arts in meaningful, inclusive ways.
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Board Member
Tameal Edwards is the Booking Manager for the iconic Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where she curates live performances that showcase both legendary and emerging blues talent. With years of experience in event coordination, artist relations, and music programming, she has become a trusted connector between musicians, audiences, and the cultural institutions that keep Delta blues thriving. As a board member of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation, Tameal brings her industry expertise, deep ties to the music community, and passion for preserving and promoting the region’s rich musical heritage.
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Board Member
Nick Talbott is Executive Producer for Ground Zero Blues Club Media, where he brings the spirit of the club’s world-renowned blues performances with audiences far beyond Clarksdale. Nick plays a key role in preserving the authentic spirit of Delta blues while expanding its reach through modern media channels. As a board member of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation, he contributes his expertise and commitment to documenting and promoting the region’s cultural legacy.
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Board Member
Baylor Stovall is the owner of Stovall Gin Company, a multi-generation agricultural business rooted in the Mississippi Delta’s rich farming heritage. Leading operations in one of the region’s most historically significant cotton gins, Baylor blends modern agribusiness expertise with a deep respect for the land and community traditions. As a board member of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation, she brings a strong commitment to preserving Delta culture, supporting local economic vitality, and ensuring the arts remain a vibrant part of the area’s identity.
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Board Member
Alina Scalora is the Director of Operations for Ground Zero Blues Club Media, overseeing the logistics, partnerships, and production workflows that bring the Delta blues to life on screen and across digital platforms. With a background in operations management and a passion for arts and culture, she ensures that each project runs smoothly from concept to final cut, amplifying the reach and impact of the region’s music. As a board member of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation, Alina applies her organizational expertise and creative vision to advancing the Foundation’s mission of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta.
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Board Member
Linda Keena is a Professor at the University of Mississippi, where she has built a distinguished career in criminal justice education and research. With a focus on restorative justice, community engagement, and innovative teaching methods, she has worked extensively to bridge academic study with real-world application. A dedicated advocate for the arts as a tool for community enrichment, Keena brings her expertise in program development and her passion for cultural preservation to the Ground Zero Arts Foundation board, helping advance its mission to celebrate and sustain Mississippi Delta blues heritage.
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Board Member
Stella Meier is a Graduate Student at Stanford University, specializing in International Relations and Sustainability. With a strong academic focus on the intersection of global policy, environmental stewardship, and community development, she is passionate about creating strategies that balance cultural preservation with sustainable growth. Drawing on her international perspective and commitment to social impact, Meier contributes fresh insights and forward-thinking approaches to the Ground Zero Arts Foundation board, supporting its mission to honor Mississippi Delta blues heritage while fostering sustainable cultural tourism.
OUR FOUNDERS
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Founder
Academy Award®–winning actor, producer, and philanthropist Morgan Freeman serves as Board Chair of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation (GZAF). A native of Mississippi and lifelong champion of the arts, Freeman has dedicated his voice, vision, and leadership to preserving the cultural legacy of the Delta.
Freeman co-founded the iconic Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as a tribute to the birthplace of the blues. His passion for the region’s musical heritage is deeply personal—rooted in a belief that the Blues is not just a genre, but a vital chapter of American history and a living, evolving art form.
Through his role at GZAF, Freeman advocates for music education, economic opportunity for working artists, and the protection of the Delta’s unique artistic traditions. His global recognition and deep Mississippi roots help amplify the Foundation’s mission to ensure the sound of the Blues continues to inspire future generations.
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Founder
Eric Meier is a seasoned entrepreneur and music-club veteran who co-owns the iconic Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Eric brought his passion and experience in music venue operations—from backing the early ‘90s band Everclear to co-owning Seattle’s famed Crocodile Café—to the heart of the Delta in 2017.
Inspired by the region’s deep blues legacy and co-founders Morgan Freeman, Bill Luckett, and Howard Stovall, he invested in Ground Zero in 2018 and stepped up his leadership following Luckett’s passing in 2021 Under his stewardship, Ground Zero has grown into the world’s top blues club and expanded with a second location in Biloxi, while its signature events—like the annual Juke Joint Festival—attract thousands of visitors from across the globe
When not on-site in Clarksdale, Eric splits his time between Mississippi and the Pacific Northwest, balancing his love for blues culture, live music, community building, and entrepreneurial ventures in entertainment.
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Founder
Howard Stovall is the Co-owner of Ground Zero Blues Club, where he has played a key role in shaping one of the Delta’s most iconic music venues. A lifelong advocate for the blues and its cultural preservation, he brings a deep appreciation for the music’s history and its ongoing influence on global culture. Through his leadership, Stovall helps ensure that the club—and the artists it supports—remain a vibrant part of the Mississippi Delta’s living heritage. As a board member of the Ground Zero Arts Foundation, he continues this mission, fostering programs that celebrate and sustain the blues tradition.
THE GROUND ZERO ARTS FOUNDATION HONORS THE MEMORY AND LEGACY OF GROUND ZERO BLUES CLUB CO-FOUNDER BILL LUCKETT.
