Senator Jason Lewis to Host Community Conversation in Stoneham on Arts and the Local Economy

Continuing his “Community Conversations” issue discussions, Senator Jason Lewis is excited to announce an upcoming conversation he will hold on the impact of the arts and cultural sector on our local economy. Held in every community of the district, “Community Conversations” are issue discussions delving into a different topic at each forum, with ample opportunity for residents to share feedback and have their questions answered by experts on the given topic.

This upcoming event – Community Conversations: Investing in Arts and Culture to Strengthen Our Local Economies – will take place on Tuesday, September 26, at 6:30pm. The event will occur at the Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, and is free and open to the public. Attendees will hear from: Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; Christopher Carino, Chairman of the Town of Wakefield’s Albion Cultural Exchange Committee; and, Amanda Chisholm, Chief Economic Development Planner for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

This forum will offer the chance to hear directly from numerous issue experts regarding the benefits to our local economies provided by the arts and cultural sector, and how our communities can best engage the arts and cultural sector as part of strategic economic development. There will be ample opportunity for Q&A from attendees. The forum is co-sponsored by the municipal Cultural Councils of Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winchester, as well as State Representative Michael Day and the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce.

“Local arts provide our communities not only with entertainment and education, but also with substantial economic stimulus,” noted Senator Lewis. “I look forward to discussing with this distinguished panel how we can invest in communities that are simultaneously culturally vibrant and economically thriving. I am also eager to hear feedback on this from local residents, as the conversations I have directly with constituents across the district are the best source of information and guidance to help me do my job in the legislature.”

“Community Conversations” forums have been held in all six communities of the 5th Middlesex district on topics including: public education; public transportation; small business and entrepreneurship; challenges facing senior citizens and caregivers; veterans’ issues; housing; energy policy and environmental priorities; and, efforts to combat substance abuse and opioid addiction in our region.