They say that changing your name can alter how you perceive life. It’s as if a different name grants you a fresh perspective, allowing you to see things through new eyes. Celebrities with well-known nicknames and actors who embody characters face the challenge of reconciling their public image with their true selves. These instances mirror the personal experiences I’ve encountered.
Over the years, I’ve adopted various nicknames within different groups I’ve associated with. When someone calls me by a nickname from 25 years ago, it momentarily transports me back to that specific time period. Although these names may not directly reflect who I am today, they remind me of the person I once was.
Each name represents a chapter of my life, akin to a cat’s nine lives. Andy, Shorty Lo, Platinum, Fro, Divine, Anduwar, and many others have all been names I’ve responded to throughout my journey. I categorize people based on the names they call me, just as I do with the titles they assign me.
Throughout my community work journey, I’ve acquired various titles — social entrepreneur, community developer, and youth leader — each reflecting the respect and honor bestowed upon my chosen lifestyle at the time. However, none of these titles truly resonated with the core of who I was becoming.
Deep in my heart, I always felt like an artist — a creative soul who used various mediums to produce art that would make a difference in the community and touch people’s lives. Yet, it took me years to publicly acknowledge this artist within me. I believed that producing visual art aligned with my way of life and methodologies would make me more visible as an artist. Ultimately, that was the truth that resonated with me.
In 2020, during the pandemic’s peak, I had a conversation with a friend who clearly understood my professional endeavors and my unique approach to amplifying solutions. I expressed my feeling of being a social artist — a creative person devoted to the humanitarian arts. I coined terms that resonated with my true self. When I embraced this truth, my friend introduced me to another artist they felt shared a similar vision.
Caroline Woolard, an artist who had recently exhibited speculative futurism art at the MOMA in NYC and was completing their graduate work at Bennington College in Vermont, became a catalyst for my journey. Our conversation made me feel seen and acknowledged and encouraged me to delve deeper into my life’s work. Following our discussion, Caroline recommended that I attend graduate school in Vermont to further explore my inquiries and curiosities.
That recommendation led me to the Center for the Advancement of Public Action (CAPA) at Bennington, a remarkable institution focusing on innovation in liberal arts education and public service. It felt like the perfect place to finally delve into my work as an artist and nurture a dream that had blossomed since I opened my first community center as a teenager.
In my application to Bennington College, I proposed the creation of a “Social Theme Park” creative studio — a concept I had envisioned. I wanted to explore this idea within an academic setting and shape the future of work for creatives who aspired to make a difference in the world. It felt like a post-pandemic innovation, a way to reimagine communities through thoughtful experience design.
To my delight, the college accepted my proposal and selected me and one other candidate for the program. They provided me with a scholarship, housing, and extraordinary educational opportunities. I carefully chose courses aligned with my plans and curiosities. Furthermore, I became a faculty member, teaching courses that resonated with my interests and goals. All the while, I immersed myself in the breathtaking beauty of Southern Vermont, a haven for creative minds.
Thus, I embarked on a journey that became one of the most exhilarating periods of my life. Alone in Vermont, I pursued my most significant dream, surrounded by countless “first-time” experiences. It felt like I had entered an entirely new existence, akin to an afterlife. I was healing from the grief that had burdened me since 2019, using that pain to fuel the path ahead.
I chased my dreams amidst the chaos of a pandemic, a world undergoing a profound transformation. I confronted the challenges of a failed marriage after more than a decade, the separation from my children during their formative years, the relentless hustle and bustle of city life, and the most metamorphic period of my existence. This journey is truly epic.
CampUs Studios has come to life, culminating over 20 years of hard work and dedication. It is an institution inspired by my children, created to shape a world that will benefit them, their peers, and future generations of neighbors. I am filled with boundless gratitude and energy for what lies ahead. My vision of “Social Theme Parks” will soon be shared with the world.
Stay tuned for more updates as I unveil this transformative adventure.
