PROVIDENCE – Jennifer Dalton Vincent will soon take up the reigns of Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth and lead the organization as its executive director, according to a Thursday announcement by the nonprofit’s board of directors.
Vincent, who will start on Nov. 5, succeeds former executive director Nancy Safian, who stepped down to care for her family. Safian led the nonprofit from November 2016 through May of this year.
Excited by the opportunity, Vincent said in a statement: “I was immediately drawn to how CityArts uses art to champion its students’ sense of who they are and where they are from, paving a path for our city’s youngest citizens to actively participate in the Creative Capital.”
A graduate of Tunis Community College in Farmington, Conn., and Brown University, for two years Vincent previously helped run the Pawtucket Arts Festival as the group’s festival director. Therein, she oversaw operations, fund development and marketing for the monthlong event.
Additionally, Vincent owned and operated the Warren-based restaurant The Nat Porter from 2003-2006.
“Jennifer has an entrepreneurial spirit with an emphasis on community engagement that will lay a strong foundation for CityArts as we enter the next quarter-century of the organization,” said Christina Alderman, board chair, in prepared remarks.
One of her tasks as executive director will see Vincent partner with community groups for out-of-school programming designed to help local youth develop social and creative skills.
Founded in 1992 by Sister Ann Keefe, a St. Michael’s Church nun, the Providence-based nonprofit has served more than 5,000 city elementary and middle school students by providing arts-based after-school programming. Today, the group estimates it serves close to 800 city students each year.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
