Messay Derebe is the General Director of the Anacostia Arts Center (AAC), where she oversees daily operations, strategic growth, and a major redevelopment project to reimagine the Center’s future.
With over 15 years of experiences that spans finance, arts management, social impact, and government service, she rejoined Wacif after previously serving as the founding Program Director of the Enterprising Women of Color Business Center.
Her career began at Ernst & Young, where she conducted audits for midsized and Fortune 500 companies, developing expertise in financial analysis, risk management, and operational efficiency. She later earned a master’s degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University, transitioning to a career dedicated to social impact.
Most recently, she served as a Program Analyst at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Implementation Coordination (CIC) office, an office charged with ensuring the efficient distribution of over $110 billion dollars in Federal funding. She played a vital role in overseeing the implementation of multi-billion-dollar national grant programs designed to foster economic growth including the launch of a $125 million business development initiative, working across agencies to ensure its strategic execution.
Previously, Derebe served as a Program Officer at the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, managing a $2.3 million grants portfolio supporting nonprofit organizations across arts, education, and environment and capacity-building sectors. She has experience in fundraising, financial oversight, and nonprofit strategy.
An ardent supporter of the arts and a firm believer in the importance of expanding opportunities for all, Derebe co-founded goARTful, a subscription service for art, with the aim of enhancing accessibility to the visual arts market. In addition to her professional pursuits, she plays violin in her downtime and takes great joy in experiencing the rich arts landscape that D.C. has offers.