Our Friends and Neighbors: Deborah Cullinan, Intersection for the Arts

Deborah Cullinan is the Executive Director of Intersection for the Arts. She is also on the Boards of the California Arts Advocates and the Diabetic Youth Foundation and is a proud parent at Commodore Sloat Elementary School.

In your work life, you facilitate the creativity of artists every day--how do you encourage creativity with Hayden?
One of the beautiful things about being a mom is the constant reminder that kids are just naturally creative - living proof that there is art and opinion in each of us. So, to my mind, we have a responsibility to foster that, make room for it wherever we can, and create opportunities for our children to be around art and artists of all kinds. I hope that Hayden gets to really experience how many ways there are to be collaborative, inspiring, and artful. Artistry in the kitchen, in the garden, in our libraries and community organizations, in the games we play, in the traditions of the people in our communities, in the stories we tell, and in our more traditional art spaces. I want him to feel first-hand that there are so many important ways for artists to use their creativity to help make the world a better place.

We try to encourage Hayden's individual creativity in a holistic way - in problem-solving, in building relationships, and in experiencing the world. He helps us cook. He reads a lot. He takes art and dance classes. And, he spends time playing on his own - imagining new worlds and making up his own stories. Hayden also really loves to draw. We bring a notebook wherever we go - no matter what. He takes the world in that way.

He also loves to dance and to mime things he sees in the grown-up world. Watching actors and dancers at Intersection, he teaches himself how to move and how to tell a story. It has always felt right to encourage him - but not force structure or responsibility onto him. So, if he takes an art class (or plays a sport for that matter), it is about making a commitment that he can own and be excited about. It is about fun and it is about committing to giving it his best.

What about becoming a parent challenged or surprised you the most?
Hayden was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 4 years old. This came just as his dad was emerging from a really mighty battle with Cancer. In addition to the ongoing life lesson - "it's hard," I am constantly surprised by Hayden's tenacity. He just keeps moving! So, what challenges me is to try to be as simultaneously agile and grounded and brave as he is.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Of course, I will say Hayden is my inspiration. He is now 7 years old and he approaches his life, his health, his disease with such balance and grace. To see such beauty and kindness is endlessly inspiring. I am also deeply moved by the artists and activists I get to work with who have committed their lives and their gifts to helping to make our communities stronger. Many are parents who make hard choices every day in order to insist that our children live creative and empowered lives. It is especially extraordinary to me to be able to meet and learn from young people who are defying the odds - living in really difficult circumstances and rising up with brilliance, extreme talent, and humility. These are the people who will change things for the better. It is an unbelievable honor to get to be around that.

Have you created any family traditions that differ from what you grew up with?
I love creating traditions and adapting ones from mine and my husband's lives. For example, instead of saying a prayer every night we talk about what we are grateful for and what our favorite part of the day was. We also make a monthly calendar that covers the front of our refrigerator. Each day (most of the time), we make an image from the day. Sometimes it's words. Sometimes it's a drawing. And, often, it's a collage of words and images. It is a sort of living journal to remind us of how fortunate we are and to mark important milestones. We also have things like Family Game Night and - of course - Easter Egg Hunts, a New Year's Day Brunch, Christmas Tree Trimming, Pumpkin Carving. . .

Where are some of your favorite family-friendly Bay Area haunts or regular events?
We love taking a picnic to Huddart Park in Woodside in search of sunshine and wild surprises or taking a drive down the coast to play in the tide-pools. There are so many amazing organizations doing family-friendly programs that celebrate the diversity of our community from 826 Valencia to Youth Speaks to Out of Site to Dance Mission and on and on. I will say that Hayden counts the days to the Hip Hop Dance Festival. Its profound for him to see all that multi-generational exchange and collaboration - and to see kids his age dancing alongside veterans reminds him of what is possible!