Episode 80: Partnering with New Immigrants

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Greg Jenkins, Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council, shares how he and his colleagues build relationships with Somerville’s diverse new immigrant populations as both arts audience members and programming partners. This type of community engagement identifies new sources of cultural energy and assets, he says, and a willingness to enter a world that may be unfamiliar.

Greg Jenkins. Photo courtesy of Commonwealth Journal.Since 2001, Greg Jenkins has been the Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council. His professional experience includes arts education, public folklore and community-based programming. Since 2005 he has spearheaded cultural economic development initiatives within Somerville. Jenkins holds a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Folklore.

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Episode 79: Opening Doors and Creating Pathways

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Sociedad Latina is the oldest Latino youth organization in Boston. Its creative youth development program supports young people from middle-school into early college or career. Executive Director Alex Oliver-Dávila, discusses the symbiotic relationship they have formed with numerous local colleges which allows their students to experience a pathway to higher education and bridges an institutional gap between higher education and community-based organizations.

Alexandra Oliver-Dávila For more than 20 years, Alexandra Oliver-Dávila has worked to create a community that supports Latino youth, values their input, and believes in their ability to create positive social change. Serving as Executive Director since 1999, Alex has transformed Sociedad Latina into a cutting-edge, data-driven, creative youth development organization. Under her leadership, Sociedad Latina has increased and diversified its budget, expanded board membership, increased the number of youth and families it works with and expanded programming.

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Episode 78: Following in a Founder’s Footsteps

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How do you follow in the footsteps of an organizational leader — especially a beloved, well-respected founder? Margaret Keller, Executive Director of Community Access to the Arts (CATA), discusses the transition process for her taking the helm at CATA five years ago when founder Sandy Newman retired, and offers tips for board members on how they can prepare for bringing in new leadership.

Margaret Keller portraitMargaret Keller is Executive Director of Community Access to the Arts (CATA), an arts organization that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of more than 800 people with disabilities across Berkshire County. Over the past five years, she has led CATA through a dramatic period of growth, increasing the number of CATA artists by 50% while also expanding community partnerships and public programs.
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Episode 77: Sonido Musica in Harmony

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Eileen McCaffery, Executive Director of Community Music School of Springfield, and Julie Jaron, Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the Springfield Public Schools, discuss their work over five years on the Sonido Musica program, a partnership that aims to reduce Springfield’s high school drop-out rate through student engagement, leadership, and performance opportunities. What started with three public schools and 60 students has grown to 18 schools and nearly 1,000 student musicians! Now nearby Holyoke wants to replicate this model. Their goal was not to have the Community Music School replace music education in the public schools, but rather to help principals and administrators see the power of the arts working every day in their school.

Eileen McCaffery (l) and Julie Jaron (r)Eileen McCaffery has served as Executive Director of Community Music School of Springfield since 2012, having been a CMSS Board member for 6 years prior and serving as Board President for 2 years. Ms. McCaffery received her BA from University of New Hampshire, graduating magna cum laude.
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Episode 76: Celebrating Science and Technology in the Community, for the Community

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John Durant, Director of the MIT Museum, discusses the origins of the Cambridge Science Festival, the first of its kind in the United States. Now in its 13th year, the Festival attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually, hosts events in more than 70 different venues from Cape Cod to Central Massachusetts, and works with more than 100 collaborators.

John DurantJohn Durant trained in natural sciences (MA) and the history of science (PhD) at the University of Cambridge in the UK. He has spent his entire career working at the interface between science and technology and the wider community. He was Assistant Director of the Science Museum, London, between 1989 and 2000, where he oversaw the development of the Wellcome Wing.
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