Jakki Cafarelli

Jakki Cafarelli, a South Side Chicago native, is the manager of the Metal Shop at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. With over a decade of experience in metal shops and foundries, Jakki has facilitated welding workshops on the West Side of Chicago and founded the first-ever Metal Shop Olympics at SAIC. She holds a Master’s in Arts Administration and Policy from SAIC and previously owned and operated a gallery and community workspace in Pilsen, fostering creative connections and engagement.