About aly

Aly (Alyssa) Masaquaptewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe of Northern Arizona, is a Phoenix-based community organizer, event coordinator, and artist currently pursuing a degree in Music Business and American Indian Studies at Mesa Community College.

Starting out in Phoenix’s local music scene, she worked her way up from merchandise seller to interning at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Now, with experience working at over 15 music festivals and large-scale events, she uses that insight in her current role as Art & Community Engagement Coordinator at Cultural Coalition, Inc.

Her passion for community organizing originated during the 2020 pandemic. With ample time to reflect on the world around her, she noticed a lack of Indigenous representation in the arts. Moving forward, she used her artistic skills to propel the image of the “Urban Native,” which won her the Democracy is Indigenous art contest held by the National Urban Indian Family Coalition. With national recognition, she continued to create art inspired by Indigenous modernity. The vision for her future pivoted when she began pursuing a career in the music industry. While searching for opportunities, she found herself volunteering her time to non-profit organizations such as Musically Fed, HeadCount, and Cultural Coalition. Enamored by the work of these organizations, she worked to incorporate the commitment to bettering her community into her career goals.

Looking to the future, Aly is planning to transfer to Arizona State University to study Business and Non-Profit Management. Her plans also include becoming a music industry professional and founding a non-profit that will encourage Indigenous youth to pursue creative or non-traditional careers and provide them with career services, workshops, and professional opportunities.