Arts and nonprofit champion Chandra Stephens-Albright’s 11 Good Things

In this series, ArtsATL asks a member of the Atlanta arts community to share 11 things on their mind. We hope you enjoy getting to know these people better.

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Chandra Stephens-Albright served as managing director at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company from July 2017 to July 2026, following a stint as the executive director of C5 Georgia, a youth development nonprofit. Prior to her work in arts and nonprofits, she had a successful 22-year career at the Coca-Cola Company. Stephens-Albright has served on a number of local boards and was a member of the 2019-20 cohort of National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Officers Program; an alumna of Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta; and a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2005. She is a graduate of Emory University and Washington University in St. Louis. 

Here, in no particular order, are her 11 Good Things. 

1. Warren Albright. “Romantic” is not the word my friends or family would use to describe me, but this man brings it out. He is my best friend, my sounding board, my unpaid therapist and my heart.

2. Messing around backstage after the show is over. My happy place is at the intersection of art and science, so I can’t get enough of creative designers’ technical artistry. You can find me after the closing show playing around on the set, trying on wigs and (once) doing some dance steps with cast members.

3. The Atlanta arts ecosystem. Collaborative. World-class. Tenacious. Multifaceted. Resilient. Deserving of massive financial investment.

4. Canines. Apologies to my human neighbors whose names I cannot remember but whose dogs’ names I cannot forget. Dogs make me smile in my heart.

5. Building culture. I love finding ways for people to use their superpowers for a common goal, especially when their powers don’t seem to be compatible at first glance. 

6. Accessories. Hats and shoes. ’Nuff said.

7. New York Times cooking. I love to cook when I feel like it (sorry, Warren). Exploring, trying and modifying the vast array of options on this site is so much fun.

8. On a related topic — food. It is a very good thing to not let me get hungry.

9. The Atlanta Falcons. Jamil and I constantly trash talk about the NFL, so I will cut him off and acknowledge that the Falcons may not meet his concept of “good.” But they are my team, and I will stick by them.

10. Family. My family tree includes many limbs laden with hardheaded, focused, compassionate people that had no concept of “can’t,” never met a stranger and ate challenges for snacks.

11. Learning. I was plunged into a whole new industry in 2017. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Atlanta’s arts community, proud of what True Colors has accomplished and humbled by learning from so many talented and experienced arts professionals, on both sides of the stage, canvas and exhibit.