Founding Artistic Director

Desi Shelton is a playwright, actress, director, and Founder and Artistic Director of Camden Rep in her hometown of Camden, NJ. Desi uses theater to preach, educate, and uplift, finding inspiration in normal day-to-day activities.

Shelton received her B.A. from Northeastern University and her M.F.A. in theater from Sarah Lawrence College. Upon returning to Camden, she heard her friends and neighbors complain that they were not welcome at local university venues, that they had no artistic outlet in Camden, and that their stories were being left untold — leading Desi to found Camden Rep, attracting first-time theatergoers in the community.

P.A.C.E Founding Program Director

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Camden, Jamal Dickerson started playing trumpet in second grade. By high school, he was studying with Leon Mitchell and Terrell Stafford. A graduate from Morgan State University, and master’s in public administration at Rutgers University in 2010. He returned to Camden to give back to young people. Married and the father of six. All of his skills in music, martial arts, coupled with sheer determination have made him an accomplished and recognized educator. It’s no surprise that in 2007, he received the distinguished “Oscar for Teaching” known as the Milken Educator Award, established to recognize and celebrate exemplary teaching. In 2011, Jamal won an Emmy Award.

Economic Development

An alumnus of the P.A.C.E program playing trumpet, Joshua is a dedicated advocate for education and community development. Graduating from Cornell University and then University of Pennsylvania Law School, He writes grants and advises on growth strategies. His passion for helping others extends to his role as a college advisor, where he guides students in Camden through the college application process, empowering them to submit standout applications.

While in law school, Mr. Sims excelled in trial competitions and earned the prestigious All-American title from the American Mock Trial Association.

Associate Producer

A Philadelphia native with a deep connection to Camden, NJ. A graduate of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Theatre Arts, she has over a decade of experience in arts administration. Angelique works closely with Camden Rep to oversee programming, office management, scheduling, and production staff collaboration. Passionate about theatre and community engagement, she is dedicated to fostering creativity, supporting nonprofit initiatives, and enriching the lives of the community. Through her work, Angelique strives to inspire and uplift the next generation of artists.

Associate Artistic
Director

Born and raised in Camden, NJ . Haki Pratt II grew up in a love for martial arts, African dance, and music through Unity Community Center. He was raised in the program and played trumpet for the Little Jazz Giants led by Nasir Dickerson, a djembe player for Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, and eventually joined the P.A.C.E. program his freshman year of high school. This is where he found his passion for theatre. Graduating P.A.C.E in 2021, Haki currently attends Morehouse College and graduates in 2025.

P.A.C.E Associate Program Director

Camden, New Jersey, native and resident Joseph “JoJo” Streater is an innovative trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator and with a unique approach to music education. Streater studied privately with trumpeters John Swana and Daud El-Bakara. He later became a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied with trumpeters Darren Barrett, Tiger Okoshi, and Jason Palmer; saxophonist Tia Fuller; drummers Ralph Peterson, Neal Smith and many others. JoJo has recorded, arranged, composed and shared the stage with many artists including The Legendary Roots, Teyana Taylor, Janelle Monae, Solange, H.E.R, Victoria Monet, Ellie Goulding, Zhavia Ward, Wale, Bilal, Anna Wise, Cyrus Chestnut, Tia Fuller, Terri Lynn Carrington, Rob Lewis, Robert Glasper, and more. Other ventures include scoring and composition in the theater realm, recently receiving a Barrymore Nomination for Outstanding Original Music. He performed with and arranged music for artists H.E.R during the 2020 Grammy Awards and Tye Tribbett. He is most recently an instrumentalist on Tribbett’s Grammy-nominated project “All Things New.

Assistant Managing Director

Born in Camden, NJ and an alumnus of the P.A.C.E. program, Nala Jewel Johnson graduated from Wiley College on a full debate scholarship a HBCU known as Home of the Great Debaters. After graduation and post pandemic Nala Jewel moved to New York City and joined a TV show called UP Here directed by Thomas Kail as a costume production assistant which was her first introduction to the industry. Following the wrap of the season she then moved on to work as a dresser for The Lion King on Broadway. She currently is getting her MFA at Columbia University for Producing and Theatre Management.