Published February 23, 2023 by East Boston Times

Mayor Michelle Wu is particularly excited to be honored by such a diverse and inclusive organization. “Boston Arts Academy is an example of how we all benefit when we invest in our young people and give them the resources they need to succeed,” said Mayor Wu. “I’m honored to work alongside the Boston Arts Academy Foundation and all the partners who have helped to make modernized, energy-efficient school buildings like BAA a possibility.”

“The work being done by Boston Arts Academy Foundation is critical towards the advancement of arts and academic education in our city,” said Janey. “Champion Reception is a great example of how our community leaders can come together to support the highly talented and creative students at Boston Arts Academy. I am honored to be recognized as a champion for our community and will continue to be a champion for the arts and our youth.”

Wu, Former Mayor Janey To Be Recognized at BAAF Champion Reception

The event will take place at the iconic House of Blues in Fenway on Lansdowne Street and will be followed by the opening night all-star performance of Shrek The Musical, put on entirely by Boston Arts Academy students. This will be the first live production in the school’s newly opened theatre, and the first major production in-person in two years.

“We are so thrilled to honor Mayor Michelle Wu and former Mayor Kim Janey as our 2023 Champions,” said Boston Arts Academy Foundation President and CEO Denella J. Clark. “March is Women’s History Month, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by honoring the first two women mayors in Boston who both champion our students and the arts community.”

Boston Arts Academy Foundation is an independent charitable non-profit organization that helps bridge the growing gap between the Boston Arts Academy’s allocation from the Boston Public Schools, and the true cost of a high-quality education that is both arts-intensive and college preparatory. In 2018, Boston Arts Academy Foundation led a six-year, $32 million comprehensive campaign called 

 designed to elevate the visibility of and support for Boston Arts Academy, and to ensure the sustainability of this unique education model. In just five years, Boston Arts Academy Foundation is halfway through the campaign and have exceeded the campaign’s $20M milestone goal. 

Each year, Boston Arts Academy Foundation presents the Champion Award to a member of the community who embodies the school’s commitment to the arts, scholarship, and citizenship. Previous BAAF Champion Award honorees include former First Lady of Massachusetts Diane Patrick, former Boston Mayor, current United States Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and former Governor Charlie Baker.

Mayor Wu has been a voice for accessibility, transparency, and community engagement in city leadership since being elected to the Boston City Council in November 2013. As a classical trained pianist, Mayor Wu continues to be a strong advocate for the arts in Boston. We witnessed her dedication to the arts shortly after her inauguration as Mayor, when she had the city-owned piano moved into her office so that she can play. In 2023 she pledged to make the largest investment ever in artists and the arts. She has backed that up by investing up to $1.7 million to preserve affordable artist workspaces in Dorchester.

In addition to Mayor Wu, former Mayor Kim Janey will also be honored by Boston Arts Academy Foundation. As Boston’s first woman and first black mayor, Mayor Janey successfully led the city through a multitude of unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 global pandemic. Mayor Janey introduced a citywide agenda of recovery and reopening, focusing on health and wellness while elevating arts and culture. Janey started the “Joy Agenda”, a city-wide program that featured investment in recovery and renewal through supporting arts and culture workers, local small businesses, and youth. Currently, Mayor Janey is President and CEO of the Boston-based nonprofit, Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath).

At the completion of the reception, guests will walk across the street and be treated to the first-ever musical performed in Boston Arts Academy’s new theatre. The inaugural show, 

 is an entirely student run production. Boston Arts Academy chose the show because of the themes of inclusiveness and the welcoming of the diverse and underrepresented is in line with the culture of BAA. 

 are available for a donation of $125, while a ticket for all other performances are $25. Proceeds from the event will directly support BAA’s arts programming and more. 

For more information and to purchase tickets for all four performances of 

https://bostonartsacademy.org/foundation/event/champion-reception-2023

Click Here to Purchase Tickets to Shrek The Musical

Mayor Michelle Wu, Former Mayor Kim Janey to be Recognized at Boston Arts Academy Foundation Champion Reception

Each year, BAA Foundation recognizes individuals who embody Boston Arts Academy's commitment to the arts, scholarship, and citizenship with the prestigious Champion Award. Mayor Wu has been a voice for accessibility, transparency, and community engagement in city leadership. First elected to the Boston City Council in November 2013 at the age of 28, Wu is the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Council. In January 2016, she was elected President of the City Council by her colleagues in a unanimous vote, becoming the first woman of color to serve as Council President. As Mayor, Wu is working in coalition to deliver bold, systemic change and make Boston a city for everyone.

As a classical trained pianist, Mayor Wu continues to be a strong advocate for the arts in Boston. We witnessed her dedication to the arts shortly after her inauguration, when she had the city-owned piano moved into her office so that she can play. In 2023 she pledged to make the largest investment ever in artists and the arts. She has backed that up by investing up to $1.7 million to preserve affordable artist workspaces in Dorchester. 

Thursday, March 16 from 5pm-7pm at the House of Blues 

as we honor Mayor Wu and Mayor Janey as two female leaders and trailblazers in the Commonwealth, during Women's History Month!

 Learn more and Purchase Tickets to Champion Reception 2023

Meet Our Champions 

Each year, BAA Foundation recognizes individuals who embody Boston Arts Academy's commitment to the arts, scholarship, and citizenship with the prestigious Champion Award. Former Mayor Janey is Boston’s first woman and first Black mayor, successfully leading the City through a multitude of unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 global pandemic. Mayor Janey introduced a citywide agenda of recovery and reopening, focusing on health and wellness while elevating arts and culture. Janey started the “Joy Agenda,” a city-wide program that featured investment in recovery and renewal through supporting arts and culture workers, local small businesses, and youth. Currently, Mayor Janey is President and CEO of the Boston-based nonprofit, Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath).

A proud fourth-generation Roxbury resident, Mayor Janey comes from a long line of educators, entrepreneurs, 

and advocates. In 2021 Mayor Janey spoke with 

 Boston on her connection to the arts: “The arts have been all around me in my family my whole life,” Janey said. It’s one reason why she counts artists as “essential workers” alongside medical providers, police officers, fire fighters, and food service workers. According to Janey, her family instilled in her a deep appreciation of art, creativity, and public performance.

Boston Arts Academy students received a rare lesson Wednesday afternoon — led by renowned rapper 

. Lupe Fiasco, the stage name for Chicago-native Wasalu Jaco, led nine students through a detailed Masterclass on the power of didactic, instructional lyrics. 

’s article about Fiasco’s lesson on the context, construction, and content of lyrics, he reportedly told the class:

“When I went from being an artist straight out of high school, I was still learning how to construct and compose, still trying to figure out what I wanted to say. And then I started to learn that what I wanted to say was dictated by what I needed it to do and not the other way around.”

Fiasco will be teaching a semester-long course at MIT, beginning this week, as one of the MLK Visiting Professors and Scholars Program for the 2022-23 academic year. About Fiasco and the MLK program at MIT, 

, MIT’s Institute Community and Equity Officer, said, “MIT is so fortunate to have this group of remarkable individuals join us. They bring a range and depth of knowledge to share with our students and faculty, and we look forward to working with them to build a stronger sense of community across the Institute.” 

John Dozier also serves as Co-Chair of the BAAF 2023 Champion’s Committee, alongside his wife Victoria, who also participates on the BAAF Advisory Council. 

The Champion’s Committee, led by the Doziers, aims to raise $150,000 for the 

. Following this event, all guests are invited to attend the All-Star Student Production of 

 John Dozier joined MIT in 2020 as its new Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO). He previously served as Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Provost for Inclusion at the University of South Carolina. Victoria Dozier has over 30 years of experience in both business management and engineering. We look forward to their leadership of the Champion Reception event!

 for caring about BAA's artists, scholars, and global citizens and for supporting their futures. We are so excited to continue our collaboration with you!

to help us reach our goal and ensure a successful event. 

Learn more about the 2023 Champion Reception

Grammy Award Winner Lupe Fiasco teaches a class at Boston Arts Academy!

Wendy Michel, also known as MoMa, has joined Boston Arts Academy Foundation as our new Senior Director of Marketing and Communications. Michel brings over 15 years of experience in B2B and B2C Marketing and Communications along with a strong background in non-profit arts programming.  

During her career, Michel has developed launch campaigns generating a 200% increase in sales, engagement and brand awareness for brands such as Beats by Dre, DOVE, Naturade, BET, and Def Jam Records. Michel’s Non-Profit experience spans from working alongside Gina Belafonte to launch the “Gatekeepers of Truth” campaign for Sankofa, a social justice Art Non-Profit founded by Harry Belafonte, to producing community engagement case studies for “UNI” - the Boston Ballet’s latest public art installation. 

“Given Wendy’s interdisciplinary background as an artist and entrepreneur, her work with leading non-profits, as well as her skillsets in Marketing, I believe Wendy is the perfect representation of artists, scholars, and global citizens we aim to support, said Denella Clark, President and CEO of Boston Arts Academy Foundation. “We are excited to have her help in leading our Marketing and Communications in order to fulfil our mission to bridge the gap between the Boston Arts Academy’s allocation from the Boston Public Schools, and the true cost of a high-quality education that is both arts-intensive and college preparatory.”

As our Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Wendy will oversee multi-faceted marketing, communications, and public relations programming, targeting supporters of the Foundation, private donors, companies and organizations, and corporate leaders. Her goal will be to promote the BAA Foundation brand, through fundraisers, enhancing volunteer leadership, and supporting BAA students and the Foundation’s mission. 

In 2014, Michel was accepted into Parsons School of Design studying Strategic Design & Management. During her time there, she was a STEAM educator and curriculum developer for the Obama Foundation. Following her studies Wendy decided to self-educate by traveling the world, 

Wendy’s ambitions led her to serve as a creative humanitarian and art curator in Germany, China and Hong Kong. During her travels Wendy worked with installation incubators such as MADE in Berlin to study the advancement of interdisciplinary arts across a variety of mediums.

Michel’s love for the arts started at a young age while performing for her community in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti where she was born. Becoming a professional dancer at 15 years old, Michel performed at national competitions with Boston’s Phunk Phenomenon Dance Troop. Michel was appointed by Artists for Humanity Co-Founders Jason Talbot and Rob Gibbs (also known as ProBlak) to be a part of an intentional arts programming pilot with the City of Brockton where she was raised. Under the supervision of ProBlak, Wendy spent the rest of her youth working as a teen artist. As an honor graduate of the program, Michel decided to give back to the non-profit and became a mentor for the painting studio.  

“Joining the Boston Arts Academy Foundation is a full circle moment for me. Given the impact that AFH had on me as an after-school program, I could only imagine what it would’ve felt like to attend a school completely dedicated to the arts”, explained Michel. “My position as Senior Director of Marketing Communications for the Foundation allows me to bridge my work as a Marketing executive with my passions for STEAM education and arts activation. Nothing feels more gratifying than working for an organization that is in alignment with my personal values.”

When not working, Michel has a passion for teaching yoga, painting portraits, and developing research in Neuroscience and Health technology.

 to say hello and welcome her to the BAAF community.

News

Wu, Former Mayor Janey To Be Recognized at BAAF Champion Reception

Mayor Michelle Wu, Former Mayor Kim Janey to be Recognized at Boston Arts Academy Foundation Champion Reception

Meet Our Champions

Meet Our Champions

Grammy Award Winner Lupe Fiasco teaches a class at Boston Arts Academy!

Meet our New Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Talent is evenly distributed in society, but not opportunity. Help us change that reality in Boston.

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