Chanel Compton

Ms. Compton grew up in Bridgeport, CT, and has had a love for museums and the arts since childhood, stating, “In high school, my art teacher would take the class on field trips to museums and galleries; these trips were really special to me because there were absolutely no art museums or galleries near my neighborhood.  During a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I was introduced to the work of Leonardo Drew, a renowned African American artist who actually graduated from my high school.  I was very proud that an artist from my local community was featured at such a prestigious museum; showcasing artwork that enhanced me and my classmates’ knowledge of Black history.  For me, that experience illustrates that a museum can be a powerful place of learning and inspiration.   Institutions such as museums can be places that inspire a new generation of leaders and innovators; a place of unity and connection, a place of learning, and a place of individual and collective transformation.”