ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Andrew
Small Business Founder - Non-Profit Worker - Community Leader
My Story
I am deeply passionate about North Adams and want to use my future seat on the North Adams City Council to continue to make a positive impact by developing responsible and inclusive policies, generating opportunity, bringing people together, and helping to build a vibrant city.
I was born and raised in Massachusetts. I studied International Relations, Business, and Political Science in Virginia, Europe, and Asia throughout my undergraduate and graduate degrees. My career has varied from directing an acting school to managing local and national marketing partnerships to producing inclusion programs at major Tech companies and nonprofits. This diverse career has taken me across industries and the world, with the common thread being a focus on community development and advocacy.
After time spent living and learning in other cities and towns, I was eager to move back home to Massachusetts, where I could dive into the beautiful City of North Adams, and leverage my experience, passion, and vision to fix up old buildings, create businesses and nonprofits, develop spaces for residents to gather, foster a bustling downtown small business district, contribute to the workings of government, and make a positive impact on this community.
BERKSHIRE STONEWALL BOARD MEMBER
Recruited to represent the Northern Berkshires on the board of the oldest LGBTQIA+ organization in Berkshire County, Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition, with a mission of supporting the well-being of LGBTQ+ people of the Berkshires. Responsible for fundraising.
ROOTS TEEN CENTER
Volunteered at ROOTS Teen Center as a representative of North Adams Pride where local LGBTQIA+ youth and their allies gathered to learn more about queer topics and get plugged into queer initiatives like the 2023 Pride Night Celebration.
EAGLE & MAIN
I am proud to be in the process of redeveloping the buildings at the corner of Eagle and Main Streets in downtown North Adams. Until the new design, engineering, and construction is complete, I leverage the storefronts to curate community art and expressions to be displayed in the windows each month.
A&M BAKERY
In partnership with a local baker, I sell food at the North Adams Farmers market on Saturdays to help provide delicious prepared food to the local community and sell wine and beer on Eagle Street at First Friday events and the Eagle Street Beach Party to help create a more vibrant and fun downtown experience.
HOME
I purchased a beautiful old home in North Adams, and have been renovating the house for some time. I love fixing up and decorating the house with vintage furniture for affordable prices at local shops such as Sanford & Kid and the Antiques Emporium.
Community Work
CITY OF NORTH ADAMS ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEMBER
Appointed by Mayor Macksey to the North Adams Zoning Board where we make decisions about the allowable use of property to ensure constructive economic development and the safety of our residents.
CITY OF NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS IDEA COMMISSION CO-CHAIR
Appointed by Mayor Macksey to our city's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Commission. The mission of the City of North Adams I.D.E.A Commission is to educate, innovate and celebrate the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility by providing workshops and consultations and promoting events in order to uplift and create space for marginalized voices within our city. As a leader of the group, I am responsible for strategizing, facilitating, and recruiting for the Commission.
NORTH ADAMS PRIDE ORGANIZER
Joined the North Adams Pride Night planning committee, to produce the second and third annual North Adams Pride Night events, fundraise through the first annual Northern Lights Ball and several partnerships and sponsorships, help build the Pride float in the 2021 and 2022 Fall Foliage Parades, and create additional events and opportunities to help support the LGBTQIA+ community in the Northern Berkshires.
NORTH ADAMS FIRST FRIDAYS ORGANIZER
Coordinated with City leadership, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and local business owners to celebrate arts, culture and commerce in North Adams, and create a vibrant downtown North Adams which residents, small businesses, and visitors can be proud of and want to engage with.
NORTH ADAMS VACANT STOREFRONT WINDOW ART ORGANIZER
Helped organize local artists, volunteers, and Mayor Macksey to curate and publish a body of works from local artists in vacant windows around downtown North Adams on an annual basis