Who I am...
I am a son, a poet, an “IT guy”, a husband, a father, a forever student, and a member of many communities. All of these identities factor into my decision to seek a seat on Carrboro’s Town Council.
I served as Poet Laureate of Carrboro from 2019-2022 and was recognized nationally by the Academy of American Poets with a Laureate Fellowship.
I have also served on the Orange County Arts Commission’s Artists Advisory Board and currently serve on the Orange County Arts Alliance Board. I am proud to have been part of the team that helped bring the Eno Arts Mill to fruition.
Before my time here in North Carolina, I lived in Bamako, Mali, and Washington, DC, two places that taught me the value of community, collaborative work, and the role of creativity in developing a strong social fabric.
Image courtesy of Ryanbee Photoworks
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.“
- Toni Morrison
Why I AM Running
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.“ - Toni Morrison
I was initially reluctant to run. Given the current state of our political discourse and the increasing ire and animosity directed at progressive municipalities, their civil servants, and elected officials, I was concerned about subjecting myself and my family to that level of stress.
However, as I started to consider my family's personal histories and the at-large history of African Americans in this country, I began to feel differently about my course of action. I also found great inspiration from the Toni Morrison quote above. Although Morrison was talking about writers specifically, I took the liberty of extending the metaphor to civic engagement.
Additionally, I have long maintained that artists and other creatives ought to be "at the table." We have much to offer in the way of human-centered solutions, creative and design thinking, business acumen, and empathy. So I saw this as an opportunity to "walk the talk."
Perhaps most importantly, I want to be an example and inspiration for my daughters and others who are questioning whether they can be a part of "the system" to make a change and play a part in creating the kind of community they want to live in.
Livability
How do we make Carrboro as livable as possible for as many different types of people as possible?
Sustainability
How can we grow as a town and be good stewards? Is it possible to think about sustainability and growth such that we can be more connected, have more amenities, and attract businesses and developers that align with our values?
Creativity
What can we learn from other towns and cities that have already done on some scale what we seek to bring to our community?