Professional Experience
Community Engagement and Professional Affiliations
2017-present Historic Boston Inc Board of Directors
2016-present UU Urban Ministry Board of Directors
2016-2017 NEFA grant reviewer
2016 Mass Cultural Council grant reviewer
2015-2020 Community Relations Professional Network (founder)
2014 Governor Patrick’s Public Art Task Force
2013-2016 Boston Cultural Council
2013-2014 Mayor Walsh’s Arts and Culture Transition Team
2012-2013 Equality Fund, The Boston Foundation
2010 LeadBoston
Presentations and Speaking Engagements
2020 Alliance for Economic Inclusion (FDIC)
2018 ITGA Conference, Columbus, OH
2017 Neighborhood Matters panel, Northeastern University
2017 Roxbury Love Panel, Boston
2016 Society for College and University Planning Conference
2016 ITGA Conference, Chicago, IL
2016 NU Dream Conference, Northeastern University
2016 The City Talks panel, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
2016 Civility Series panel, Northeastern University
2015 Social Engagement Through the Arts class, School of the MFA
2014 Arts Administrators Roundtable, Boston
2014 Socially Minded Leadership class, Simmons College
2013 & 2014 Cultural Entrepreneurship Class, Boston University
2013 Transcultural Exchange Conference, Boston
2013 NEFA Creative Communities Exchange Conference, Portland, ME
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
Testimonials
"Derek is a true professional and creative individual. I love the way his mind works, how he challenged me to come out of my comfort zone, and his work to push our team to rethink some of the ways in which we communicate externally. He was also successful at leveraging interdepartmental relationships to build a larger coalition of offices that learned from and supported new connections with the surrounding community. If another opportunity comes up, I would look forward to working with him again."
David Isberg, Assistant VP of City and Community Engagement
Northeastern University
“Derek was a great thought partner in the design and development of the Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship (CEF). In addition to conceptualizing some of the building blocks for the program’s structure, he was key in assisting with outreach to a diverse set of artists and creative entrepreneurs from around Boston. Years later, CEF is still going strong with Derek’s contributions at the core.”
Jim Grace, Executive Director
Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston