beisecker - Support of O’Connell Development Group (ODG) application for CPA funding.pdf7/25/22, 12:54 PM City of Northampton Mail - Support of O’Connell Development Group (ODG) application for CPA funding
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1739001857378710499%7Cmsg-f%3A17390018573787…1/2
Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>
Support of O’Connell Development Group (ODG) application for CPA funding
1 message
Kristi Beisecker <kristibeisecker@gmail.com>Thu, Jul 21, 2022 at 6:10 PM
To: slavalley@northamptonma.gov
Cc: mhl@marthalyon.com
Dear Commissioners,
My name is Kristi Beisecker and I live out of Amherst, MA but have worked in Northampton for 3.5
years at River Valley Co-op as a multimedia specialist in their marketing department. Anyway, I
have nearly 10 years of marketing experience with the last few as a startup consultant for nonprofit
organizations.
Currently, I’m working to launch art and science projects and to work on art and cultural
projects such as restoring and conserving the art and culture of Ukraine with a group of volunteers
who’ve raised funds to bring medical and protective supplies to the frontlines in Ukraine.
I have spoken with Bill Kraus about the future of the St. John Cantius Church building and we
have some amazing ideas of how to make the building and its vicinity a thriving community. Before
I moved out here, I had a vision of establishing an art and science research center in the Pioneer
Valley. Rather than starting yet another initiative in the Pioneer Valley to work against the grind;
networking, working collaboratively and cooperatively seems to be a better solution to bringing this
vision to life.
Aside from the historical, cultural and artistic reasons for this building to be saved, the space
can lend itself to become a hub for the Northampton community. There are many buildings
dedicated to the arts but not so much for the interdisciplinary side. These programs, projects,
community and capacity building initiatives would bring people from all walks of life to appreciate
the historical, cultural and artistic features of the St. John Cantius Church building.
This project has also hit home due to my work with the Ukrainian frontlines and artists as they
try to save their culture. While the destruction of this iconic building is no way at the same level of
the destruction Ukraine is facing - it is more of the same threat of destroying a historic, cultural and
artistic piece of the Northampton skyline. At the start of my involvement in this project, there was
actually a cathedral that was just destroyed in Ukraine by the Russians, please don’t bring barbaric
actions to our home turf by destroying this building!
There are so many abandoned buildings in western Mass that often become environmental
hazards. Save this church, so it can be restored and become a thriving community once again!
The church has held many memories surrounding communion, baptism, confirmation, weddings,
and other events that mark historic chapters in many peoples’ lives. As I’m sure many of its
members and attendees have written, it’s a work of art that is meant to be saved.
7/25/22, 12:54 PM City of Northampton Mail - Support of O’Connell Development Group (ODG) application for CPA funding
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1739001857378710499%7Cmsg-f%3A17390018573787…2/2
Kristi Beisecker
Multimedia Specialist
hello@kristibeisecker.com
(413) 340-1007
Business Hours
M-F 9am-5pm
Award-winning Multimedia Artist and Designer, exhibited works 44+ times!
Best Content Creation Agency of Western Mass by Lux Lifestyle Magazine
I am fully vaxed 🦠
www.kristibeisecker.com