Board - Rapson Collaborative

Board of Directors

Meet the members of our Board, who work to foster creative projects in Iowa City and the surrounding area.

Trevor S. Harvey is a lecturer in ethnomusicology/musicology at the University of Iowa. His research investigates participatory musical cultures and community construction through collaborative, recreational musical practices. His current research projects consider computer-mediated musical processes within multicultural/multinational Internet communities and socio-musical experiences within the virtual world of Second Life. Trevor is the co-founder of Iowa City’s Front Porch Music Festival.

Craig Jarvie spent most of his early years in Montana and Wyoming. Although Craig has lived all over the United States, he has found a home in Iowa City. Craig Jarvie retired from University of Iowa Health Care after twenty years of employment. Apart from work with Rapson Collaborative, he volunteers at KICI radio, community theaters and Floodwater Comedy Festival. Craig and his supportive wife, Joey Walker, have a son, Walker Jarvie, who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jim Larew has been an attorney for more than 30 years, providing legal services to Iowans throughout the state. His practice covers civil and criminal matters, including employment, civil rights, family law, and property law. From 2007-2011, Jim served as General Counsel to Iowa Governor Chet Culver, and also served as Policy Director and Chief of Staff in the Office of Governor. Currently, he advocates against insurance companies who have acted in bad faith; against environmental polluters; and against owners of nursing homes and care facilities who have injured residents through indifference or neglect.

Eric Neel is an Emmy-winning producer, editor and journalist for ESPN, where he is currently the Director of Content Development. He is a founding member of Rapson Collaborative and a co-founder of the Redwood Jazz Alliance concert series. He lives and works in Sierra Madre, California, and is at work on a book on the music and life of John Coltrane in 1967.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. His books are Look, Black Boy and Heart Notes. As a performer he is the winner of multiple poetry slams across the country. Caleb directs IC Speaks, an inclusive spoken word community to empower young adults to use their voices. He also produces events like the Mic Check Poetry Fest.

Beth is the owner of Regarding Home, a business dedicated to providing renovations and building projects for homeowners. Along with her former husband John, Beth’s home has served as a meeting place for a myriad of musicians and other creatives over the last several decades. She is a non-voting member of the board.

Hannah Rapson works as an independent financial advisor in Iowa City. As vice president of Rapson Collaborative, she is committed to community building and advocacy work on behalf of underrepresented voices within our community. Hannah holds a BA in painting and is a passionate supporter of the arts.

Ryan Smith is a multiple woodwind specialist who performs regularly in the Iowa Corridor area and throughout the midwest. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa and teaches woodwinds at Grinnell College, Cornell College, and St. Ambrose University.

Rae Evemond (she/her) is a mother, joy cultivator, multidisciplinary artist/writer, and owner of Art Therapy and Counseling Studio, where she serves as an art therapist. A Chicago transplant who has called several cities and countries home, Rae loves the creative, connective energy that permeates- and distinguishes!- Iowa City.

Creighton Gaynor is a performer, creator, percussionist, and composer with roots in Lexington, KY. He has enjoyed a long career performing in various ensembles and session recordings as a member of the Iowa City, Quad Cities, and Ames/Des Moines music communities. Creighton can currently be seen on stage with his band Jumbies playing Caribbean and world music fusions, and enjoys adding some flavor to many other projects and collaborations. Creighton combined his love of live music and industry experience to form Natural Talent Music (NTM), an Iowa City-based company focused on promoting artists and creating intentionally multicultural live music events. Creighton and NTM are very proud to help coordinate events for the South of 6 Business District as Chair of the Arts and Entertainment committee, and the Iowa City Bike Library. Creighton has also volunteered with Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts for several years and currently serves as President of the organization’s Board of Directors. In his spare time, Creighton continues his career in human resources and management with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Jen Knights is a people-centered marketing professional, dedicated to promotion of the arts and fostering community connection in Iowa City. She is the marketing and communications manager for Performing Arts At Iowa and former marketing director for Mission Creek Festival. She also serves as a board member for Iowa City Summer of the Arts and as Vice President of the New Pioneer Co-op board of directors.