1.Your personal connection
How has your personal experience with arts, culture, or creativity had an impact on your life and your view of the community?

• My personal experience with arts, culture, and creativity has had a major impact on my life and view of my community. Art has opened my eyes to the world and its complexity whether looking at the Arts of the Harlem Renaissance or of Ancient cultures long ago, I am wiser now because of art and the information it carries.
• While studying Ethnic and Gender courses in college, we were able to learn about the culture of our classmates but also our own culture, this raised awareness of identity and respect for others as well; bridging people together rather than dividing. I take great interest in the intricacy of culture and wish to bring that same interest to our City by sharing our diverse community not just within Brockton but to the world!
• Creativity is important to me, to the development of our children, our elderly, and even our middle aged community. I believe you are never old for creativity and we as a city of innovation need to highlight our talent and ability for ingenuity.

2. Arts & Culture in Brockton
Brockton is home to a mix of arts and cultural organizations.  What is your story about the impact of a local arts or cultural institution in our city?

• All through my life I was interested in the diversity of our City, as a youth I, along with other students at the Davis School had the privilege of having our artwork displayed at the Brockton Fuller Arts Museum. It was a massive inspiration for me and propelled my love for art.
• Working with Commonwealth Corporation (Quasi-Nonprofit organization) I was able to work on funding programs that focused on working with at—risk youth through art and mentorship. I had the opportunity to approve a grant that provided funds for an art mural program in Brockton and other programs throughout the commonwealth.

3. Addressing City-wide Issues
What are specific examples of how the arts, culture, and creative community can help solve social problems?  What are your ideas about how the creative community can drive economic development in Brockton?

• Creating art space in our city can encourage sharing culture and creativity amongst residents and visitors to the city. Examples are evident in cities like Boston and Seattle where you can see visual art along highway corridors, greenways, and busy streets. This interaction with art is able to brighten up the social atmosphere and help generate foot traffic in underserved communities and change perception of crime/poverty.

4. Arts Education and Programs for Our Youth
What is your stance on the importance of arts education in schools? Do you support funding of the Creative Challenge Index? The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has pledged to update the Commonwealth's art education curriculum (last updated in 1999) as well as report on access and participation in arts education in school districts. How will you support arts education in the Brockton Public Schools, in the face of never-ending underfunding?

• I will encourage a STEAM curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Mathematics) and also rigorously recruit businesses that will invest in the arts and technology as well as do business here in the city. Marketing our City and the talents within is key to securing grants and captivating investors.

5. Partnerships with the Creative Community
How would you promote public-private partnerships to support the Brockton creative community?

• I would encourage businesses in our City to buy into the artistic culture by encouraging art in the workplace environment and interacting with the community through art. I would engage investors, non-profits, and educational institutions to collaborate with the City and create more opportunities such as events or forums where the community can come out and enjoy the fruits of their artistic labor.