2025 Honorees of Smith Memorial Playground

Tiffani Dean

Tiffani Dean is a multifaceted artist, educator, and entrepreneur based in Philadelphia, PA. Known for her compelling artistic vision, Tiffani’s work spans across various disciplines, including visual arts, poetry, theater, and social media content creation. Her artistry and activism are deeply rooted in her commitment to empowerment, cultural celebration, and community development.

Tiffani is the founder and creative force behind La Diva Dolls, LLC, a business dedicated to designing and selling handmade cloth dolls, mixed media art, and prints. Through La Diva Dolls, Tiffani honors the beauty, resilience, and diversity of Black women by creating culturally relevant and empowering collectible dolls. Her work has been featured in prominent outlets such as WHYY, CBS Philly, 6ABC, Good Day Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Inquirer, where her dolls are praised for celebrating Black hair and history. Her work has also been featured in art galleries and festivals all over the United states.

In addition to her work as an artist, Tiffani is a seasoned social media influencer, using her platform to promote art, fashion, food, and lifestyle brands. She crafts engaging content that resonates with her diverse audience, helping businesses grow while raising awareness for important cultural and social issues. Her digital presence, under the brand “Simply Tiffani,” continues to thrive, reaching and inspiring a wide community of followers.

Tiffani is also an accomplished theater producer, director, and writer. As the COO of The Collective Mic Productions, she has developed and produced numerous theater productions that blend poetry, music, dance, and dialogue. These projects explore themes of identity, healing, and social justice, with a particular focus on giving voice to marginalized communities. Her play, Between The Colored Lines & Other Black Girl Tales, which explores the intersection of family dynamics and societal struggles, has been staged at various festivals, including the SheNYC and SheLa Summer Theater Festival along The Dancer which was produce in Philadelphia as a part of the Philadelphia Art Sanctuary Celebration of Black Writer, The Think
Create Inspire Theater Festival and the Atlanta Black Theater Festival.

As a teaching artist, Tiffani is passionate about fostering creativity in young people. She serves as the Program Director and Facilitator for the Collective Mic Youth Arts Initiative, where she designs and facilitates arts education programs focused on mixed media art, creative writing, spoken word performance, and entrepreneurship for urban youth.

A strong advocate for mental health and healing, Tiffani uses her artistry to bring light to difficult subjects such as mental illness, family trauma, and resilience. Through projects like Still Running, a multimedia piece that tells the story of navigating life with a parent with mental illness, she creates space for conversation and healing.

With a passion for storytelling and a deep commitment to her community, Tiffani Dean continues to be a driving force in the arts, education, and activism, using her many platforms to inspire, empower, and elevate those around her.