DAVID VALECILLOSDirector of Design
North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC)
David Valecillos joined us virtually this week to share information on the NSCDC and the Punto Urban Arts Museum. David is an award-winning urban planner and real estate developer with more than 10 years of experience. He oversees all urban planning projects for the NSCDC, including multi-million, multi-site projects and city-wide housing market analyzes. As part of his work with the NSCDC, David co-founded, and serves as the director of, the Punto Urban Art Museum, a nationally recognized social justice-driven public art program in the Point Neighborhood that features more than 85 large-scale murals by 75 international and local artists.
David began his presentation by providing background information on the NSCDC, whose mission is to invest in neighborhoods to create thriving communities through programs including real estate development, YouthBuild, art and placemaking, city planning, and advocacy. In 2012, the NSCDC collaborated with the city on a vision and action plan for the Point neighborhood which identified three main goals: housing investment, public infrastructure investment, and the elimination of any stigma connected to the neighborhood. These goals have been the focus of their work since then, and the NSCDC accomplished much by doubling their housing stock, creating youth programming and housing, and establishing Espacio, a community programming space, and a retail incubator on Lafayette Street as well as working with the city to improve parks and sidewalks. The third goal regarding the stigma of the Point neighborhood proved to be the most challenging goal.
To begin to eliminate the stigma, the NSCDC used a $5,000 place-making grant to paint crosswalks in the neighborhood in 2015. This small project turned out to be a catalyst for engagement between residents of all areas of Salem, beginning to break down the invisible barrier between the Point neighborhood and downtown. From there, the public art project grew to an open air museum featuring art on 40 NSCDC-owned buildings. Working with national and international artists, the art fostered neighborhood pride, increased economic opportunity for local businesses, and raised consciousness about social justice issues of Point residents.
Named “Punto” (the Spanish word for “Point”) to pay homage to the neighborhood and its current residents, the museum now contains 95 large scale murals, some of which showcase Point residents and the cultures of the neighborhood. There is also a local artist piece on Peabody Street which features 25 local artists who create works related to a social justice topic. Last year’s was “What it Means to Be Free,” and this year’s is “The American Dream.”
The Punto Urban Art Museum has led to many positive outcomes including cultural resiliency, community education, neighborhood and community pride, economic development, and regional and national interest.
CAlendar winner!
Salem Rotarian Bob Anthony has an incredible sweet tooth, as most in the Club know. He was eager to sign up for our Sips and Starters event and was looking forward to enjoying a root beer float at the event. Unfortunately, none of the restaurants were able to fulfill this wish. Later that weekend, on the way to visit his son in New York, Bob stopped at the Ben and Jerry’s Factory in Vermont with hopes of satisfying his root beer float craving. Sadly, even Ben and Jerry were not able to serve him his float. The Historic Hawthorne Hotel, however, is always able to meet its guests needs and happily surprised Bob with a root beer float for dessert on Tuesday.
Accidently on Purpose November 5 at 8 pm
Dickens Classic Trolley Ride
