Arts instruction increases achievement across all disciplines and develops the whole child. What will you do as a school committee member to champion arts education for our youth both in our schools and communities? How will you balance the importance of arts education with the constant pull to teach to the test?

The arts, sciences and humanities have the power to build healthier, more livable and vibrant communities. They are an essential part of a strong educational system, contribute enormously to our economy and build bridges across cultures. They can be used to address – or better yet, prevent – some of our most stubborn social problems. They help us interpret our past and shape our future, and help us understand what it means to be human. As a longtime arts advocate and the son of an artist, I promise to make arts education a priority on the school committee. From helping start Art in the Park, to helping create more arts programming in our schools, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative nature of the arts in children. I have worked to connect artists, businesses, non-profits, universities and the Worcester Art Museum with local schools and I will continue to do so on the school committee. One of the first things I would like to do when I get on the school committee is work with the administration, educators, artists, civic and political leaders to convene community conversations on the topic of arts education. Hopefully, a community team will be formed to come up with a plan for how we can incorporate more arts education into our schools based on our community strengths and needs. I will also continue my work with community and political leaders to fix the outdated funding formula so that Worcester gets its fair share in funding. I have been bringing people together to solve community problems my whole life and I have seen the power of organized communities. We need an advocate like myself on the school committee who will fight for access to quality public education for all children.