Mayor of the City of Portsmouth
I am currently serving as the Artistic Director of the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, and have opened my personal art making studio, Gallia Street Studio, to the public. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Art from Tulane University’s Newcomb College of Art, and a Master of Art in Museum Studies from Southern University of New Orleans. Studying the impact of art and museums on communities and as tools for economic growth, my approach to my Second Ward Council appointment is based on community building. Community is a space for everyone, celebrating our diversity and strength, and building something that is larger than any one person.
It is an exciting time to serve Portsmouth and see the growth all around us, and to work with a Council that is looking forward and working together to create a space where every voice is heard and represented.
Artists are often the first to reclaim forgotten places. Long before major redevelopment occurs, creative communities bring life, identity, and activity back into underutilized buildings and neglected corridors. This session explores how visual and performing arts communities have played a critical role in the revitalization of Downtowns and the reactivation of the Main Street corridor. From galleries and maker spaces to live performance venues and public art initiatives, attendees will gain insight into how arts and culture can function not simply as entertainment, but as an economic development strategy capable of driving foot traffic, entrepreneurship, placemaking, and neighborhood identity.
Boxed lunched included. Registration Required. Communities across Ohio are navigating many of the same opportunities and challenges, yet each has developed its own approach to downtown revitalization, economic development, housing, and placemaking. This interactive roundtable brings together three Ohio mayors to share what's working in their communities, discuss lessons learned, and explore how local leadership can shape successful Main Street initiatives. Rather than formal presentations, this session is designed as a candid conversation that encourages dialogue among the panelists and audience.