Episode 5: Economic Development thru the Arts

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Arts for a Better Bay Area State of the Arts Summit Panel on Regional Economic and Community Development through the Arts

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"There's been a lot of talk about, how do you make this sustainable, and there's not one answer, but one piece that is core to that, is really galvanizing and cementing around this notion that arts and culture is already right here and we need to lean into it and value it and uplift it. And in that way it won't be able to be ignored'“ - Fernando Pujas

This episode is part of our special series on how the arts and culture sector is coming back from the covid 19 pandemic and features voices from the Co-Production of Arts For A Better Bay Area State of The Arts Summit held at the Strand Theatre in San Francisco on June 28th 2023. The focus of the summit was on rebuilding our communities through the arts. 

This episode features panelists from our breakout panel discussion “Regional Economic Recovery Through the Arts" on how the Arts are being utilized in economic and community development coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic. The panel features the voices of Laura Poppiti, the Deputy Director of the Center for Cultural Innovation, Richard Raya, the Chief Strategy Officer at Mission Economic Development Agency, Fernando Pujals, the Deputy Director of the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation, Meredith Winner, the co-founder and COO of Building 180 and Managing Director and Co-Founder of Paint the Voice, and Jacob Bintliff, the Manager of Economic Recovery Initiatives at the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development along with our co-host Susie McKinnon a Steward at Arts for a Better Bay Area.

Laura Poppiti - Program Director, Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)

Laura Poppiti is the Program Director at the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), where she manages the organization's grant programs for California artists and arts workers, in addition to overseeing special initiatives. Prior to CCI, she worked in various fundraising and programmatic roles at small and mid-sized arts and arts education nonprofit organizations such as New Conservatory Theatre Center, The Imagine Bus Project, SF Camerawork, and the Museum of Performance & Design. i. Poppiti serves on Grantmakers in the Arts’ Support for Individual Artists Committee and the Advisory Circle for Look What She Did!, an LA-based nonprofit that brings stories of astonishing women, past and present, to the forefront of our culture. She has participated as a grant panelist for the California Arts Council, Creative Sonoma, LA County Department of Arts & Culture, and San José Office of Cultural Affairs, among others. Laura received her B.A. in History from the Catholic University of America and her M.A. in Exhibition & Museum Studies from the San Francisco Art Institute.

Richard Raya - Chief Strategy Officer, Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)

Richard Raya, is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA). For nearly 20 years, Richard has worked at an executive level to bring community leaders, administrators, and elected officials together to improve community outcomes and generate revenue. Raya has been Chief of Staff for an Oakland City Councilmember, Executive Director of Youth Radio, and Director of Administrative Services for Alameda County’s Public Health Department. He is focused on working closely with Mission Promise Neighborhood partners and applying data to improve educational results for San Francisco’s children. 

Richard’s great-grandparents were Yaquis who came to the Bay Area after fighting in the Mexican Revolution. His parents were farmworkers in the fields of Northern California and came of age during the Chicano Movement. Ray earned a B.A. in English and a Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.

Fernando Pujals- Deputy Director, Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation

Fernando Pujals, is Deputy Director, at the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation and a Director, at Urban Place Consulting. Driven by fostering connection at the intersection of people and place, Fernando Pujals has over five years’ experience in the public space management field. While rooted in communications and storytelling, he has honed his practice in operations and organizational development as a leader for positive change within communities.

Through Urban Place Consulting, Pujals serves as Deputy Director of the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation, leading the implementation of a two-year $10 million Community Based Safety Program in San Francisco's Mid-Market and Tenderloin neighborhoods.

Meredith Winner - Co-Founder & COO, Building 180 & Paint the Void

Meredith Winner is the Co-Founder, Curator and Managing Director at Paint the Void. Meredith is a San Francisco-based art curator and producer. She is also both the co-Founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Building 180, an agency whose mission is to inspire change through art and to help artists maintain sustainable careers. In addition to producing public art installations and interiors across the globe, she is the Program Director for two Bay Area Artist-in-Residence Programs. Meredith has spent the past 12 years dedicated to the arts, working in a wide array of positions. Most recently, Winner co-founded Paint The Void, a partnership project with Art For Civil Discourse. She coordinated the painting of over 200 murals on boarded storefronts in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Winner is both an artist and arts facilitator. She holds a BFA in Sculpture from Cornell University.

Jacob Bintliff - Mgr of Economic Recovery Initiatives, SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Jacob Bintliff is the Manager of Economic Recovery Initiatives at the City of San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, where he manages a complex portfolio of initiatives and works with key stakeholders to stabilize and grow a thriving and more resilient economy for the City of San Francisco. Jacob previously served at the City of San Francisco's Planning Department where he specialized in community benefit and affordable housing programs and provided in-house expertise in real estate economics on a variety of mixed-use and multi-phase development projects. Prior to joining the City of San Francisco, Jacob was a senior associate at BAE Urban Economics, where he provided economic development, public-private partnership, and development feasibility services for public-sector clients across the Bay Area and nationally. Jacob holds a Master of City Planning degree from the University of California, Berkeley and BA in Latin American Studies and Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Susie McKinnon - Steward, Arts for a Better Bay Area

Susie McKinnon has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 14 years in management, leadership, and consulting capacities. She develops and oversees strategic and operational planning and implementation, programming, fundraising, and more. Susie serves as the director of Arts for a Better Bay Area and provides management consulting to other nonprofits, small businesses, and artistic projects. She holds a BFA in Fine Arts and Media and a master’s degree in Public Administration. She is also an artist herself and an ardent advocate for the arts. You can reach Susie at susie@betterbayarea.org

Rachel Osajima - Executive Director, Alameda County Arts Commission

Rachel Osajima serves as the Executive Director of the Alameda County Arts Commission, which is a division of the County of Alameda. The commission is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Alameda County by fostering a vibrant environment for the arts and cultural activities. Their initiatives include supporting Alameda County’s artists and arts organizations through programs like arts grants, public art, and art education. Additionally, they actively encourage public participation in the arts and advocate for their importance in thriving communities. Rachel Osajima’s leadership contributes significantly to the commission’s mission, recognizing that creativity and the arts are essential components of a successful community

Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)

The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) was founded in 2001 as a California 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Its mission is to support individuals in the arts—artists, culture bearers, and creative entrepreneurs—to realize greater self-determination so as to unfetter their productivity, free expression, and social impact, which contributes to shaping our collective national identity in ways that reflect the diversity of society.

In 2000, a major study was commissioned by 38 funders nationally, resulting in a 2003 benchmark report produced by the Urban Institute in Washington, DC titled Investing in Creativity: A Study of the Support Structure for U.S. Artists. The Urban Institute study showed, and CCI’s field experience has affirmed, that artists have significant needs in multiple domains, including training and professional development, material supports, access to markets, public validation, information, and participation in larger communities and networks. In 2016, capping a two-year national research effort in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, CCI released an updated report on U.S. artists, Creativity Connects: Trends and Conditions Affecting U.S. Artists, to understand artists’ support systems in a technology-enabled era and to recognize how the very definition of “artist” has been expanding. Find out more about CCI’s Funding, Resources, Workshops and Initiatives

Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)

Rooted in San Francisco’s Mission District, MEDA is advancing a national equity movement by building Latino prosperity, community ownership and civic power. We envision generations of Latino families choosing where to call home, thriving economically, succeeding in learning opportunities, and leading policy and social change toward a more equitable society. In working to achieve our mission, MEDA has identified several core values that we strive to reflect in all of our activities. Our core values are:

Equity - We create programs and change policies to expand opportunities for Latinos and other historically underserved communities, to ensure justice is never limited by race/ethnicity, class, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, country of origin and disability status.

Activation - Our work is grounded in the experience and expertise of our community members, mobilizing local leaders to reverse displacement and promote local ownership of neighborhood establishments, cultural institutions, business capital, and homes.

Audacity- We are risk-takers who lead with courage, put forth new solutions to our community’s challenges and continuously adapt to changing circumstances.

Togetherness - In solidarity with fellow organizations committed to advancing equity, the MEDA team creates partnerships locally, regionally, statewide and nationally, sharing our model and building coalitions in a movement toward social justice.

Impact - Our goal is to eradicate our community’s problems, not only to help our clients develop coping strategies. In order to create this lasting change, we continuously monitor the impact of our services as well as use data to drive program improvements and inform our policy agenda. Find out more about MEDA’s Programs, Family Resources, Key Learnings, and Getting Involved.

Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation

The Mid-Market Business Association (MMBA) is a 501c6 and advocates on behalf of businesses, property owners, and other stakeholders along Market Street between 5th and Van Ness and surrounding areas. The Mid-Market Foundation (MMF) is a 501c3 non-profit established in 2019 which accepts charitable donations and seeks funding to conceive, implement, and manage transformative programs. Our collective vision is a safe and clean business setting that fosters a sense of community, inclusion, and contribution, by and for everyone. We envision the Mid-Market corridor as home to a thriving business community. We believe a strong business community is one important step of many towards an increased quality of life, and a more beautiful and welcoming neighborhood for current and future residents and businesses. Find out more about MMBA's Programs, Newsletter, Getting Involved, and Past Projects.

Building 180 & Paint the Void

We imagine a world where art connects us with one another, and the world around us. A world where art has no boundaries and is made to elevate the human experience, inspires the very best in human nature, and awakens the fullest possibility of imagination. We are the producers who see the world in color. We make ambitious projects possible by empowering both artists and clients to dream bigger and build better. We apply our expertise to transform big ideas into tangible reality, changing the way art is experienced, valued and made. Building 180 is a full-service art production and consulting agency — we curate and produce uniquely complex art installations from conception to completion. Our team of curators, producers, and artists are professional problem solvers with big ideas who thrive on fast timelines. We work with cities, brands, architects, designers, developers and more to identify opportunities, build consensus between stakeholders, then apply our methodology to bring your story to life — ahead of deadline and under budget. We exclusively work with reliable artists and pride ourselves as safeguards of artistic integrity and freedom.

We measure success by the number of emerging artists we have supported, the number of unique installations we create, and volume and quality public/private community engagement surrounding each project. Our ultimate goal is to draw community into conversation by using art as a catalyst for shared ownership and creative value. Find out more about Building 180’s Services, Projects, Get Involved.

Paint the Void is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, born from an idea to help keep artists engaged and paid as guardians of hope and beauty in a time of fear and uncertainty. Public art organization Building 180 and Art for Civil Discourse (ACD) joined forces to raise funds for artist grants as a response to COVID-19. Since mid-April 2020, we have facilitated and supported the creation of over 200 murals in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, funding over 150 artists. Paint the Void is funded through small individual donations, grants, and collaborations with larger institutions for permanent murals. Get involved as an artist or as a volunteer and inquire about a free mural.

SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) in San Francisco is responsible for creating a thriving and resilient economy, where barriers to economic and workforce opportunities are removed, and prosperity is shared equitably by all. OEWD provides high-quality direct services and programs, drives practical policy solutions, and serves as a champion for San Francisco’s diverse small business community. OEWD’s services include:

Small Business Services: OEWD provides assistance to small businesses in San Francisco by offering resources and support to help them grow and thrive.

Workforce Development: OEWD offers training and job placement services to job seekers in San Francisco. They also provide customized recruitment services to employers.

Community Economic Development: OEWD invests in San Francisco’s business corridors, public spaces, and commercial centers to promote economic growth and development.

Visit their website to learn more about their programs and services and the Road Map to San Francisco's Future.

Arts for a Better Bay Area

Arts for a Better Bay Area's (ABBA) objective is to develop a network of artists, advocates, and supporters dedicated to building community-wide solidarity to increase support and equitable access to the arts. As a coalition of individuals and organizations, we inform and mobilize the arts community through community-driven action.
Want to know more about ABBA's history, accomplishments, and work? Visit our History page. Want to join us as an OFFICIAL arts advocate member? Become a donating member today as a supporting individual or organization!

Purpose
Arts for a Better Bay Area (ABBA) was launched in 2015 to focus attention on the support needed to sustain the Bay Area's fragile arts ecosystem. Now and into the future: ABBA’s objective is to develop a network of artists, advocates, and supporters dedicated to building community-wide solidarity to increase support and equitable access to the arts. As a coalition of individuals and organizations, we inform and mobilize the arts community through community-driven action.
Get Involved
Support Arts for a Better Bay Area through a donation
Arts Commons
State of the Arts Summit Resource Directory

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Thanks to our Sponsor

Voices of the Community is supported by a grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, whose Arts and Culture grants ensure vibrant work is created, new voices are celebrated, and artists and audiences inclusive of the Bay Area’s diverse communities and cultures have opportunities to thrive. Find out more at ZFF dot org

Voices of the Community is supported by a grant from the Peaceful World Foundation dedicated to fostering a culture of global peace through the promotion of hosted conversations and education. You can learn more at peaceful world foundation dot org.

Thanks to our CoProduction Partner

BAVC Media is a community hub and resource for media makers in the Bay Area and across the country, serving several thousand freelancers, filmmakers, job-seekers, activists, and artists every year. BAVC Media provides access to media making technology, storytelling workshops, a diverse and engaged community of makers and producers, services and resources. Get Training, participate in the MediaMaker Fellowship, become a member and produce shows through the SF Commons program.

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