Chanda Branch
Chanda Branch is an alumnus of Tennessee State University, with a B.S. in Speech Communications & Theatre including Teaching Certification. Leadership and civic engagement were instilled in her as core values at a young age in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida and she remains committed to those concepts as she helps to build the community in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Chanda has established herself as a professional singer, dancer, and actor on numerous stages throughout North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. She has appeared in musical theatre productions such as Gypsy, Hairspray, Chicago, The Color Purple, Sister Act, and Dreamgirls. Whether as a member of the ensemble or as the leading lady, she consistently delivers performances that are thoughtful, provoking, and memorable. Local Community Theatres and Professional Regional Theatres have awarded her work onstage.
As a professional classroom educator of English, Dance and Drama, Chanda is an award winning standout. She has produced plays and variety shows for students despite constraints on time, money, and resources. Her experience confirms her belief that young men and women blossom when they have an opportunity to express themselves creatively, and that being involved in a stage production teaches skills that reach far beyond what students will see on a test.
Mrs. Branch was appointed to the City of Raleigh Arts Commission in 2014 and reappointed for 2 subsequent terms. The aim of the commission runs parallel to her own as “the Commission is dedicated to the ongoing goal of connecting people to the arts and building a vital and ever-expanding creative community for Capital City residents and visitors.” She served the city and the commission as the Vice Chair as well as Chairperson of the grants committee, which oversaw the distribution of nearly 6 million dollars in municipal funding for arts partners. Ultimately, Mrs. Branch served as the chair of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, the first Black Woman to serve in that capacity. Following her tenure at the CORAC, she was appointed to the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, where she continues her work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as grants for non-profit organizations.
Mrs. Branch was initiated as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in 2005 with the Alpha Psi Chapter and remains an active member with Alpha Theta Omega in Raleigh. She also holds membership in The Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. and Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for Women. She is working toward a lifetime membership with the NAACP and works with a number of local community organizations aimed at improving the quality of life for all citizens of Raleigh and North Carolina.