ArtServe Names 2026 Impact Awards Honorees in South Florida
- camilarosiaz
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
ArtServe has announced the honorees for its 2026 Impact Awards, recognizing four individuals whose work has influenced arts, culture, and community life in South Florida. The awards will be presented during the fourth annual Impact Awards Gala on April 17 at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale.
Presented by Seacoast Bank, the gala will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will include dinner, cocktails, live entertainment, and a silent auction. The event is sponsored by FPL and OutClique. Tickets are available through ArtServe’s website.
The 2026 honorees are Joy Strempack, Jody Leshinsky, Sara Rogers, and William “Willie” Riddle.
Joy Strempack is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, designer, and DJ whose work spans education, environmental advocacy, and music. She has taught at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale for nearly two decades, working in Chinese Mandarin, graphic design, and 2D and 3D design. She also serves as creative director for GoGreen EcoBin, supporting recycling initiatives across Broward County. As a DJ and recording artist, she performs under DJ Joy Joy and Joy to Soul and was named Fort Lauderdale Magazine DJ of the Year in 2024 and 2025.
Jody Leshinsky is an arts advocate with more than 40 years of experience in Broward County. She began her career with Broward County in 1981 and spent over three decades with the Broward Cultural Division, focusing on marketing, communications, and public engagement. After retiring in 2016, she continued managing cultural programming for several Pompano Beach venues and events. Since 2022, she has served as Life Enrichment Manager at John Knox Village of Florida, overseeing more than 200 arts and cultural programs each month.
Sara Rogers is a performing arts educator and coach with a career spanning more than four decades. She has taught weekly classes at ArtServe for over seven years, mentoring actors in audition technique, on-camera performance, improvisation, and public speaking. Her professional work includes commercials for national brands, voice-over projects, and television appearances on series such as “Miami Vice” and “21 Jump Street.”
William “Willie” Riddle is the founder and artistic director of Generation Venetian Arts Society, a nonprofit he launched in 2010 to produce community-focused fine arts programming in Broward County. Based in Fort Lauderdale, his work centers on original productions inspired by social issues and current events. His organization has collaborated with institutions including ArtServe, NSU Art Museum, and the African-American Research Library. In 2024, he received the Impresario Award from The Opera Society and Florida Grand Opera.
ArtServe is located at 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Additional information about the gala, programs, and membership is available at the website.