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Parks and Recreation introduces 2025 cultural laureates and new staff hires
Summary
Commissioners were introduced to the 2025 visual and poet laureates and several new department employees, including a museum curator and youth and fitness coordinators. Backgrounds and roles were provided for each appointee.
The commission on May 7 heard introductions for the department's 2025 cultural arts laureates and several new employees joining Parks and Recreation.
Cultural recognitions: Mark McLeod was introduced as the 2025 visual arts laureate; the presentation said he is an associate professor of art and design at Middle Tennessee State University whose sculptural work examines memory using digital fabrication technologies. Matthew Levitt Brown was introduced as the 2025 poet laureate; staff said he is a poet, educator and interdisciplinary artist who has led expressive writing initiatives supporting veterans and trauma survivors.
New staff introductions: Travis Horn was introduced as assistant program coordinator for Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center and described as a museum curator and archivist with a BA in anthropology, MA in history and an MLIS; staff said he will pursue a PhD in public history at Middle Tennessee State University. Patterson Park hires announced included Amy Myers as fitness and wellness program coordinator and Roger Brady as assistant fitness and wellness program coordinator; both were described as longtime Patterson instructors. Erskine Collins ("Mr. EC") was introduced as youth development program staff with nearly 20 years of experience in behavior intervention and youth programming.
Why it matters: the appointments add capacity in museum curation, fitness and wellness, and youth development, and the laureates are expected to support cultural programming tied to Bradley Academy and other community arts initiatives.
Next steps: staff welcomed the new hires and asked commissioners and the community to support their programs; no formal votes were associated with these introductions.
