Your Personal Connection
1. We’ve all had defining moments in our lives. What personal experience with arts, culture, or creativity has affected your life and your view of the Lynn community?

Having personal experience with the Raw Art Works, Arts After Hours, Beyond Walls, and More Than A Number, I have a positive view of the Lynn community.           

Arts and Culture in the City
2. Lynn is blessed with a rich mix of arts and cultural organizations. What are two places where you have had personally significant arts and/or cultural experiences in our city?

There were a number of arts and cultural organizations that I have involved in, but the two place that I personally involve with every year are the Khmer New Year Community Fair and World Folk Festival. In addition to the two organizations, I was honored to participate in the amazing works by Beyond Walls and Lynn Museum.   

Addressing Citywide Issues
3. Lynn’s current challenges include a recent increase in violence, the opioid epidemic, and city finances. How would you integrate the arts, culture, and creative community in solving these challenges? Please give one or two specific examples.

I would help to organize the arts, culture, and creative community to work together with city officials to address issues that the city is facing. As a board member of the Lynn Youth Street Outreach Advocacy, I would work with the program director to have children that refer from the court system involved in arts and culture’s programs and curriculums.

4. How would you use Lynn’s arts and culture community to revitalize the city so that businesses and customers flock to it? Please give one or two specific examples.

I will continue to support and advocate for more projects like murals, outdoor movies, and concerts to come to Lynn.  I am working with the Khmer Cultural Planning Committee to organize an annual international cultural and traditional parade to attract people to come to visit Lynn and open businesses here.  

The City Council’s Role in the Creative Community
At a time when the Trump administration proposed dismantling the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Legislature chose not to increase investment in the Mass Cultural Council, we need local leadership and support for arts and culture here in the city—now more than ever. Describe how you will address these funding concerns in the following areas:

I will meet with Congressman Seth Moulton to find ways to lobby the Trump’s administration to restore the National Endowment for the arts and culture in Lynn.

5. What three revenue sources will you consider creating or using to increase the city’s financial investment in the creative community?

I will work with the Mayor and City Council to ask the Lynn Auditorium for potential funds to support the arts and cultural. I also will work with the City to look into general funds, and as a board member, I will work with the Khmer Cultural Planning Committee to make an annual contribution to benefit Lynn's arts and cultural community.

6. What are your program priorities and where will the funds be allocated?

I strongly believe that funds from the Lynn Auditorium, City and Khmer Cultural Planning Committee should be allocated for beautifying the city, continuing to revitalize downtown and waterfront, and strengthening public safety.  The arts and cultural district is the jewel of our city.   

An Arts Destination
7. While Lynn is growing as a community, the city has yet to fully leverage the strength of our arts, culture, and creative community as a means for branding and attracting residents, employees, and visitors. How would you integrate the arts into your plan to make Lynn a place where people want to live, work, play, and visit?

I will continue to support and work closely with our amazing nonprofit institutions such as Arts After Hours, Raw Art Works, Beyond Walls, and Lynn Museum for promoting downtown to make Lynn an attractive city for everyone. 

8. The Downtown Lynn Cultural District is a core driver of DTL’s revitalization—yet it currently lacks the infrastructure, budget, or city leadership advocacy it needs to thrive. What would you do to significantly support the District?

I would encourage community members to working with leaders from the Mayor’s office and City Council on issues that need to support the Downtown Lynn Cultural District.  All parties should meet regularly to address the issues and find ways to support and fund the DLCD.

Arts Education and Programs for our Youth
9. Studies indicate that art instruction should be a critical part of education across all academic disciplines, as it develops the whole child. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has pledged to update the Commonwealth’s arts education curriculum and report on arts education in schools and districts. What will you do as Councilor-At-Large to support arts education in the city’s schools and our community?

I will work with the school superintendent, school committee, parents, and state and federal education departments to ensure that arts education curriculum continues to be pledged and funded.