2022 Candidate Questionnaire – Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners
Ahead of Election Day 2022, candidates running for election for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners were provided a five-question survey to complete and share their position on arts and culture. Below are the verbatim responses we received, grouped by question.
(From left) Laura Meier and Susan Rodriguez-Mcdowell, candidates for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.
LEIGH ALTMAN (At-Large): I participated in community theater and school plays while growing up. As an adult, I have enjoyed my husband’s involvement with many music groups and community orchestras.
LAURA MEIER (District 5): When I was teaching high school in a drop-out prevention program in CMS, we received a grant from the Arts and Science Council for a huge project that encompassed every subject we were teaching in the program—English, math, social studies, technology, science, art. It was a big undertaking. The students spearheaded a play that they wrote and directed, designed the costumes and the props and scenery/backdrops, organized the location (Spirit Square) and learned lighting and sound, and directed each of those as well. Of course, this was all with the direction of artists who were part of this grant. It was probably the hardest thing I ever have been involved in as a teacher. There were tears and arguments, kids quit and came back. There was laughter and camaraderie, high fives and successes. It was actually very stressful. And in the end, the kids put on a play. They did it. They wrote, produced, directed, designed, budgeted, spent money, saved money, invited and greeted guests. There was a part for everyone. I am confident when I say none of these kids would have ever been exposed to this whole process if it wasn’t for that grant from the Arts and Science Council.
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ-MCDOWELL (District 6): I believe art allows people to come together and express big feelings and ideas that are sometimes hard to express as a community. There are so many times that I see art bringing people together like at Culture Blocks events… the last one for me was at a jazz concert in Matthews where the artists connected deeply with the audience. Other examples include a play at the Children’s Theater where history and art combined to educate and unite children; or at a Flamenco show recently that brought the audience to their feet in joint appreciation; or at the VAPA center where I’ve seen local visual artists speaking about their work and connecting with attendees. Art makes connecting possible amongst strangers.
As the community’s Local Arts Agency, ASC’s focus is to serve all residents of Mecklenburg County, the city of Charlotte and the six suburban towns, by investing in high-quality cultural programming that is diverse, relevant, resident-informed, and available to all. We intentionally center community, start with partnership (create with, not for), and advocate for equitable distribution of government funds.
What are your arts and culture priorities, and how do you intend to promote or pursue those priorities if elected? (For example: advocate for increased investment, attend cultural events or Culture Blocks programs, volunteer to sit on a grant review panel, or connect with your appointees to ASC’s geographic Advisory Councils)
LEIGH ALTMAN (At-Large): My priorities are to invest in local talent, expand access to all neighborhoods and age groups, and support a wide-cross section of diverse cultural styles, historical traditions, and artistic modalities.
LAURA MEIER (District 5): I would like to prioritize fully funding the ASC, making sure the arts are accessible for hard-to-reach communities. I recognize the importance of the arts as not only a cultural outlet, but also as a therapeutic outlet for those struggling with mental health. This need was exposed during the pandemic and I hope to see the arts utilized more in this respect.
Mecklenburg County majorly funds Culture Block programs, and though I am interested in all facets of the arts in the county, I am particularly interested in these programs. I feel that the arts continually take a hit from funding sources, and funding these grants is key to bringing art into the neighborhoods to help expose our residents to the joy of art. The BOCC should prioritize children and adults gaining more access to the arts as part of our own board priority of reducing racial disparities. Additionally, I would love to volunteer for a grant review panel!
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ-MCDOWELL (District 6): Investing in artists and helping them to sustain a decent living with their talents is a huge priority of mine. As the Chair of the BOCC’s Economic Development Committee, I had a vision to develop a pilot program uniquely designed for artists to assist them in growing their businesses as we do with other small businesses. It really was a thrill for me back in June to bring welcome greetings to the first cohort of 30 artists participating in the weekend intensive training called “Balancing Act”. Funded by Mecklenburg County through ASC, one important feature was a stipend to help with transportation, child care or other expenses. This is the kind of leadership I will continue to provide.
Community Ties: Understanding What Attaches People to the Place Where They Live, an in-depth study published by the Knight Foundation and Urban Institute in May 2020, reports that a community’s residents’ access to arts and culture not only boosts feelings of satisfaction and lifestyle fit, but also correlates with greater investment of time and resources in that community. This investment metric includes participation in local activities, attending public meetings, owning a home or local business, donating, and volunteering.
Easy access to arts and cultural activities is reported by people in low-income households less frequently (67%) than by those in high-income households (78%). Additionally, only 64% of Black residents and 66% of Hispanic residents report easy access to arts and culture, compared to 74% of white residents and other racial and ethnic groups. In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg metropolitan area, arts and cultural activities are perceived as the fourth most difficult quality feature to access in our community, after affordable housing, transit options, and job opportunities.
ASC recognizes that systemic, inequitable access to opportunity has led to generations of unjust outcomes for those who have been historically marginalized in mainstream arts and cultural funding, discourse, leadership and resource allocation. We strongly encourage all who serve or seek to serve our community to read ASC’s inaugural Cultural Equity Report, which reflects the steps – and missteps – we have taken on our journey to becoming a more equitable organization and holding ourselves accountable to the community.
How will you join ASC in actively addressing inequities in access to arts and culture?
LEIGH ALTMAN (At-Large): Not only do neighborhoods hit hardest by systemic racism experience disparate outcomes in education, safety, access to green space and so much more, they also lack equitable investments in/access to arts and culture. For this reason, I support allocating public dollars to invest in arts and culture in neighborhoods which have historically had less investment and less access to arts education and amenities. Promoting art and culture in neighborhoods with less access not only fosters economic opportunity, it also creates a celebration of community and cultural unity, all of which are essential for working against the scars of historic racism.
LAURA MEIER (District 5): I respect that the ASC took a deep look at its history and since has resolved to create a more inclusive and equitable community for the arts. I support the recommendations found in the Cultural Equity Report, particularly identifying and funding “initiatives to increase program access, including discounted or free admissions, to underserved populations.” I believe that the county must continue to support programming–including Culture Block Grants–to reach all of our residents, particularly those who are underserved. Some on the BOCC were approached by the Charlotte Symphony on creative ways to reach our residents where they are by bringing the symphony to our neighborhoods. I support thinking outside the box.
I am also a strong advocate for Arts+ for students who would otherwise not be able to have access to arts instruction. I am proud the county is a funder of such a strong and innovative program.
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ-MCDOWELL (District 6): The power of the arts must be available to ALL in our community. Continuing to support the great work of the ASC will remain an important part of my focus. Culture Blocks programming is an excellent vehicle for reaching all parts of the county with free programming that brings local and diverse talents to the forefront and makes the arts accessible to everyone. But we must do more. Diverse, local artists must be included in programming and supported at all venues in our community. We must also make strides to bring artists to our schools and support ongoing arts exposure to our children from an early age and throughout their school careers.
ASC’s 2020 COVID-19 impact survey showed that more than 90 percent of local artists have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and experienced a loss of income. The financial impact of COVID-19 on the sector has deeply impacted the livelihood of Mecklenburg’s creative workforce and the economic future of local creatives and cultural sector employees.
It is important to the workers of this sector that elected officials make efforts to understand and address their specific interests and needs.
As an elected official, how will you consider, utilize, and support the creative workers of the cultural sector?
LEIGH ALTMAN (At-Large): I always welcome feedback and input from our county’s creative workers as we make important choices for the expenditure of limited public dollars. I will do all I can to spotlight their contributions to the larger community.
LAURA MEIER (District 5): I believe that our local, small artists were left out of recovery plans and I think that it was wrong. Even with ARPA funds, our hands were tied by the federal government, and we were unable to award arts groups with the funds necessary to recover from the pandemic. The county has to do better and recognize the importance and impact of local artists and I do think that we on the BOCC must speak up and advocate better for them.
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ-MCDOWELL (District 6): I will continue to lift up cultural sector workers by recognizing their work, advocating for their needs, supporting their way of life and participating in cultural events. I invite them to reach out to me and let me know when they want to share their perspective, ask for assistance, or invite me to engage with them. Artists and cultural sector workers have the same needs as everyone else.. a living wage, access to affordable housing, access to health, access to recreation, healthy foods and education. I will continue to work for progress in all these areas.
National research consistently shows that the arts and cultural sector contributes to quality of life and economic stability of the local community. According to the most recent Arts & Economic Impact Study, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg cultural community generates $243 million in economic activity annually, supports over 7,600 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $21.6 million in tax revenue for local and state government.
In FY22, ASC invested $1.5 million in nonprofit organizations of all sizes and a historic $1.7 million to support the creative individuals and artists whose work is strengthening Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural community. Funding supported community programming, cultural education in schools, and direct investment in creative practices and organizational capacity. Regarding ASC’s FY22 investments, County Manager Dena R. Diorio shared: “ASC continues to utilize its funding from the County, and other sources, in ways that enhance our quality of life and make Mecklenburg County a better place for all of our residents.”
In FY23, ASC is working to grow support for community arts, culture, science and history programming; to deepen investment in local creatives; and to provide new opportunities for creatives and non-profit cultural organizations to invest in their own capacity. Sustaining and growing public funding plays a critical role in ASC’s capacity to realize these goals.
If elected, to what extent will you support public funding of arts, science, and history programs by Mecklenburg County through funding of Mecklenburg’s Local Arts Agency, the Arts & Science Council? Please explain your answer.
LEIGH ALTMAN (At-Large): Public funding for arts, science, and history programming is essential for the mental and emotional well-being of our residents — also to our economic growth. Indeed, our ability to attract businesses and to present Charlotte as a world-class city are closely tied to our having a robust, flourishing, and diverse arts scene. For this reason, I support an increase in Mecklenburg’s budget to nurture arts programs across the county. However, given the county’s responsibility for critical safety-net social services, CMS funding, and environmental needs, just to name a few of our obligations, I believe addressing the long-term financial plan for our arts community may require a deeper commitment from both the business community and the City of Charlotte which has a revenue stream for tourism at its disposal.
LAURA MEIER (District 5): I will fully support funding of the Arts and Science Council. I had the opportunity to work with Hannah Hassan and her students through Arts+/Studio 345 on a storytelling project with elected officials and students. It was simply inspiring to work with such talented students who, I am confident, would not have been given the opportunity to express their talents had it not been for Arts+/Studio 345. It was a remarkable experience. It cemented my support of local artists and art groups who don’t get much notice.
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ-MCDOWELL (District 6): I will continue to support and advocate for funding for the Arts & Science Council in order to enhance the lives of residents and to continue the positive impacts on our local economy.
The following candidates did not have campaign contact information available via the Board of Elections or were unable to be reached at the phone number or email address provided:
Patricia (Pat) Cotham (At-Large)
Arthur Griffin, Jr. (At-Large)
Tatyana Thulien (At-Large)
Ross Monks (District 1)
Elaine Powell (District 1)
Vilma D. Leake (District 2)
George Dunlap (District 3)
Dianna Benson (District 3)
Ray Fuentes (District 4)
Mark Jerrell (District 4)
Matthew Ridenhour (District 5)
Jeremy Brasch (District 6)