00:00Why is it important for you to be here at this summit and be a part of this?
00:03You know, I think art is...
00:05Extremely powerful to our humanity, to our connectivity, and the only way art stays alive is if we stay...
00:10...engaged, so getting together with a group of people who are passionate about keeping art engaged.
00:15Keeping art alive, keeping art funded, keeping art available for our communities.
00:20It's the least I could do is to show up right now.
00:22You know, I often say, I can talk a long time.
00:25I often say, if I do all I can, and you do all you can, and we do all we can...
00:30...then we can accomplish a lot.
00:31So it's not a big asking to come here and be together with some people who are trying to...
00:35...keep art moving forward.
00:36I love that.
00:37Why do you think it is so important to advocate for the arts?
00:40Right now.
00:41I feel that art is something that builds bridges.
00:43I think art can reach people.
00:45In ways that words necessarily can't.
00:47I think art allows us to tap into our humanity.
00:50And I think we are at a crossroads.
00:51We are losing our humanity.
00:53We are losing the ability to see...
00:55...the life of you in the life of me and vice versa, you know.
01:00I turn and I look at you and I see somebody who doesn't deserve my respect.
01:03But art is a way that can...
01:05...that can build that.
01:06That can make people realize that we are all in this together.
01:09It seems like...
01:10...especially right now we do really need it.
01:11There has been so much division and even an attack on the arts.
01:14It kind of...
01:15...it feels like with this current administration...
01:17...and what has been going on with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
01:20What is your take on that?
01:21And how do you hope that this event helps move the arts forward?
01:25What I hope with this event is that we can formulate some ideas that can...
01:30...make a difference.
01:31You know, if we come here and we hang out and we spend time, but...
01:35...if there's nothing happens outside of it, then what's the point?
01:39That's...
01:40That's my hope.
01:41And even beyond what is going on at the Kennedy Center or anywhere else.
01:44That may...
01:45...many things that...
01:46...what we do here will have a domino effect to keeping art alive.
01:48To keeping art funded.
01:50You know, for myself, I'm an actor.
01:52I'm a tap dancer.
01:53I started dancing at the age of three.
01:55Art has been a journey of a lifetime for me.
01:57I'm approaching 50 in May.
02:00If there can be some children that can be exposed to art now.
02:03That can send them on the journey of a lifetime.
02:05That hopefully...
02:06...that their journey can affect the world in a positive way.
02:08That's what we then...
02:10...then that's what we need to do.
02:11We need to support that.
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