I am an artist and professor at UNC-Greensboro in arts management, who also runs the consulting company ‘Make Do Creative’ which provides entrepreneurship training to creative makers. Having a keen interest in the arts positively impacting community and economic development, I am delighted to be involved with Uptown Partnership—especially with creative place-making efforts. I appreciate the organization's dedication to the four pillars of the national Main Street Program and its emphasis on partnerships to develop Uptown Martinsville into an inclusive and arts-focused community asset for all of Martinsville and Henry County.