Denise Hamilton
Project Director | Co-Founder
Writer-director and creative visionary using storytelling and dialogue to foster community healing and racial understanding.
Denise Hamilton is a writer-director for television and theatre and the creative force behind RACE RELAY®. In collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, she developed RACE RELAY® as a multimedia template for community engagement rooted in storytelling and dialogue.
For more than fifteen years, Denise has served as Project Director for the RACE RELAY® Initiative, leading site-specific productions and facilitated community dialogues in partnership with nonprofit organizations and public institutions. Her work brings together media, performance, and conversation to create accessible and transformative spaces for addressing race.
Denise has over 30 years of experience as a television writer and producer, including network specials for ABC, NBC, and PBS. Her work has earned multiple Emmy Awards and international recognition. She is also an accomplished theatre director and arts administrator, with prior leadership roles at the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Roundabout Theatre Company, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Fred Sugerman
Co-Founder | Movement & Embodiment Lead
Movement artist and educator creating embodied pathways to presence, connection, and healing.
Fred Sugerman is a movement artist, educator, and workshop facilitator, and the founder and director of Medicine Dance, an integrative movement approach to healing. His work lives at the intersection of the healing arts and the performing arts, supporting deeper relationships with the body, others, and the natural world.
Following a life-altering motorcycle accident early in his career, Fred committed to a lifelong, self-directed path of healing and study with masters of movement, mindfulness, dance, and Indigenous teachings. In RACE RELAY®, he creates embodied experiences that invite presence, self-awareness, and connection through movement and stillness.
Christo Pellani
Creative Director | Sound & Rhythm Healing
Master drummer and expressive therapist using rhythm, sound, and movement to support collective healing.
Christo Pellani is an internationally recognized performer, expressive therapist, master drummer, and rhythm awareness drum circle facilitator. He is the creator of SOUNDFORMATION MUSIC™, blending rhythm, sound, and movement to support healing, expression, and well-being.
Christo has led workshops and performances across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. His work emphasizes shared leadership, creativity, and collective rhythm. In RACE RELAY®, Christo’s sound-based practices support emotional release, grounding, and communal connection.
Colleen Passard
Founder (Emeritus)
Writer and mediator whose early vision helped shape RACE RELAY®’s foundation in restorative dialogue and care.
Colleen Passard is a writer, mediator, and coach whose early vision helped bring RACE RELAY® into being. She holds a master’s degree in Humanistic Counseling Psychology and has extensive training in conflict resolution, restorative justice, and circle processes.
Colleen has facilitated empowerment workshops and conflict resolution trainings for diverse communities and organizations. RACE RELAY® honors her foundational role and contributions, which continue to inform the project’s values and commitment to compassionate dialogue.
Redelia Shaw
Producer | RACE RELAY®
Producer, educator, and nonprofit founder advancing storytelling as a tool for dialogue, access, and social impact.
Redelia Shaw is an award-winning producer, educator, and nonprofit founder whose work bridges film, education, and community dialogue. She has worked on projects, which have screened internationally and aired on platforms including Netflix Latin America, Amazon Prime, and PBS.
An educator at Santa Monica College, Redelia is Chair of the Communication and Studies Department and created curriculum for Esports Management, Production, and Performance. She is the founder of Life Media Projects and a producer of RACE RELAY®, supporting its growth through storytelling, partnership-building, and community-centered production.
Join Our Story
Become Part of the RACE RELAY Experience
At RACE RELAY®, we value storytelling as a bridge between communities. Join us in sharing meaningful tales that can lead to understanding and connection. Your voice matters. Together, let’s create a welcoming space where every story is valued and celebrated.