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“I always live at the intersection of art and community,” says Cecilia (Ceci) Méndez-Ortiz, a proud Latinx artist and educator, with a track record of centering equity in arts and cultural work.

As the current Executive Director of the Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP) at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, she draws on years of experience as a museum educator, curator, instructor, artist, and board member.

Méndez-Ortiz, whose mother was a craftsperson who ran her own business in New England, says her I infatuation with the collaborative capacity of art began when she was a child. With dual citizenship in the United States and Panama, her parents and elders helped shape her worldview.

In her role at the CACP, Méndez-Ortiz partners with communities to create transformative arts experiences that foster connection. She’s most known for creating “sparc! The ArtMobile,” a traveling arts van that curates innovative workshops, paint nights, and special events to underserved neighborhoods in Boston.

“Everything was community driven, from what the van would look like and what role it would play in community events,” she said, reflecting on the tenth anniversary of sparc! – first making its debut in Mission Hill, Boston. “Ultimately, sparc! belongs to the neighborhood and to the neighbors.”

So often, marginalized communities aren’t afforded the resources to invest in local public art and creative placemaking. Méndez-Ortiz tackles systemic issues like these head on through the Radical Imagination for Racial Justice regranting program, where she serves as Co-Director. A collaboration between MassArt, the City of Boston, and the Surdna Foundation, this $1.2 million program provides funding to BIPOC artists and “to those seeking to advance racial justice through collaborative projects in their communities.”

Moreover, Méndez-Ortiz believes in leading with love, and knows that the best creative pursuits are not done in a vacuum, but with the help of a supportive team. “My work is guided by deep collaboration with other creatives, artists, and community-builders. I love the people I get to work with.”