REALIZING CREATIVE INDEPENDENCE IN UNDERVALUED COMMUNITIES
Meet all of the people that make BAO happen!
We are proud to implement a consistent pay rate of $20/hour across the organization. We are currently in the process of restructuring our board and advisory board. Stay tuned for details.
Sam Potrykus
Director of Brain Arts Org
Sam P is from Braintree and has been living in Jamaica Plain for over 12 years.He founded Brain Arts Org in 2013 after starting it's first project, Boston Compass Newspaper, in 2010. He is passionate about creating and sharing platforms that uplift marginalized artists which for Sam began with DIY/punk culture in 2004 and has evolved into arts equity and advocacy in the past decade. In addition to playing bass for local rapper Red Shaydez and the 2020 Boston Music Awards R&B Vocalist Of The Year, Miranda Rae, he is also the singer and songwriter for his own band Ten Gallon Hat.
Amyas McKnight
Director of Operations
Amyas McKnight is Director Of Facilities at Dorchester Art Project and Founder of What's Happening Boston. Through various jobs McKNight discovered his strengths and passion for grassroots organizing while simentabusoely beginning a career in the entertainment industry. In 2020 these callings merged when he started volunteering for Brain Arts Org and quickly proved a valuable asset to a hyper-local, mission-driven organization. As a lifelong Dorchester resident McKnight is passionate about realizing creative potential and bringing money and power back to his community. He manages all the facilities at Dorchester Art Project including the theater and performance space, gallery and exhibition space as well as the store and rental hall.
Emma Leavitt
Communications Manager
Emma started as a volunteer with Brain Arts Organization in 2014 and is now super proud to be one of the Directors! She runs the Communications department and the DAP store and manages public art projects. She loves painting walls, getting paint on herself, getting artists paid, and advocating for creative workers worldwide. You can see her art at www.soleiarts.com
Marc Drinkwater
Accountant
Marc is a Federally licensed tax accountant. Born in Boston, raised in NH, currently in Haverhill, Marc has over 15 years' experience working with individuals, businesses, estates, trusts and non-profits. He is a musician who organizes experimental music performances in and around Boston since 2012. He believes free artistic expression is a path to self-knowledge and a way to grow empathy for others.
Kevin Dacey
BCN Editor-in-Chief
Kevin grew up on the North Shore of MA. After studying music performance, he became a teaching artist instructing music/percussion classes and lessons. During his studies, he was also developing his love for independent journalism and community arts by attending, performing and organizing underground music shows. Kevin joined the BCN team in 2018 and became E-I-C in 2019. Alongside his two career paths, he creates experimental electronic music, collects physical music media/instruments/local art/zines, gardens and hangs with his cat. He knows BCN will forever be important in a city where emerging and underground art regularly goes unnoticed.
Volunteers!!
BAO Superheroes
And of course shout out to our incredible VOLUNTEERS who have made BAO what it is today. There are hundreds of people who have lent their energy and passion to this organization in the past several years and we are forever grateful to them!