LYNN — Later in the summer, Lynn will take on a new arts and culture planner, who will join forces with the recently-established Planning Department.
LaCrecia Thomson was selected from a list of several candidates, said Mayor Thomas M. McGee, in announcing the appointment. She will begin Aug. 2.
The Planning Department consists of members of the mayor’s economic development team, which includes the Economic Development & Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn), Office of Community Development, Inspectional Services Department, Department of Public Works, Lynn Water & Sewer Commission and Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND).
Thompson will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Downtown Lynn Cultural District; serve as the city’s liaison to local arts and culture organizations, the Public Arts Commission and the Lynn Cultural Council; and enhance the city’s creative placemaking as part of its growing city-planning initiative.
“One of my highest priorities when I was elected mayor was to create a City of Lynn Planning Department,” said McGee. “With LaCrecia joining the team, we now have three highly-motivated members on the planning staff who are committed to ensuring the City of Lynn is poised for success in the future.
“The City of Lynn, particularly the downtown, has been infused with numerous new arts and culture opportunities in recent years,” McGee said. “I look forward to working with LaCrecia to build upon that momentum and working together to continue to highlight the vibrant arts and culture community within our city for both residents and visitors.”
Aaron Clausen, Lynn’s principal planner, said, “LaCrecia brings a wide range of experience in the creative sector that aligns well with our expectations for the arts and culture planner position. We look forward to welcoming LaCrecia to the Planning Department and the City, and to take the lead in engaging stakeholders operating in the arts, culture and creative economy, as well as the broader community to grow our arts and cultural offerings.”
Thomson said she sought out Lynn because of its culture and diversity.
“I am excited about this opportunity to become a member of the City of Lynn’s Planning Department to preserve and promote the arts and culture of the city,” she said. “I was drawn to Lynn’s history, its diverse community and its active and rich art and culture scene.
“Lynn’s creative and cultural partners, and the support of city government, provide a solid foundation for success in this role. I’m very much looking forward to becoming part of this community and contributing to its vibrancy and continued cultivation of a sense of place as the City of Lynn’s arts and culture planner.”
Thomson comes from Milwaukee, where she has extensive experience engaging with the arts and culture community there. She most recently worked at Mount Mary University as an advisor in the Grace Scholars Program to increase academic and social engagement among minority and underrepresented students. Previously, she was the cultural tourism manager for the VISIT Milwaukee bureau — the first position of its kind in the state of Wisconsin.
While at VISIT, she coordinated arts and culture tours and programming for visitors and residents alike, establishing strong relationships with city leaders on diversity and multicultural initiatives. She also has experience working in the nonprofit sector, and has created multicultural, interactive marketing campaigns to attract and interact with donors at the Milwaukee Art Museum and 88.9 Radio Milwaukee, WYMS.
