Join us in welcoming our new staff member, Michael McFadden. Michael will work closely with our staff and partners to execute communications strategies focused on water justice by incorporating storytelling into content, helping shape media coverage on legal and policy developments, and supporting donor and funder communications. Learn more about Michael.
What is the last waterbody that you visited?
I visit Willow Waterhole pretty regularly because it’s tucked away and a little quieter than other parks, and occasionally, I walk my parents’ senior dog around the water at Cullinan Park.
Tell us about your background.
My background is a bit eclectic because I’ve always followed the flow of my interests and opportunities that offered unique experiences. I grew up in Missouri City and have been in the Greater Houston area for the majority of my life. My undergraduate years were spent in San Antonio studying Political Science, with a semester in Japan. After graduating, I moved to Seoul, South Korea for 4 years, first teaching English and then working as an editor.
After moving back to Houston, I got involved in the arts community (highly recommend), working with artists and curators and organizations in different capacities. Friends and colleagues encouraged me to start writing about art, and I dove into it headlong, publishing around twenty-four articles in my first year as an arts writer. Today, I mainly write for Arts + Culture TX and Flak, which is a cultural criticism website I started with a couple of friends. I also spent several years working in Communications & Marketing for Project Row Houses, which shaped how I approach community engagement, synthesizing information, and arguing about gentrification. That’s also when I acquired an MA in Arts Leadership from the University of Houston.
I left the nonprofit sector just before the pandemic and worked as an art handler for a while before diving into digital marketing with an agency, and I’m excited to return to the nonprofit fold with BCWK.
What part of your job do you think you will nerd out about?
Storytelling. It’s been at the core of my career since undergrad, when I studied ideology and the impact of narratives, and I love writing, reading, and learning.
How do you think your work as Communications Manager will impact our community?
I’d hope my work helps strengthen relationships between the organization and the communities it serves by making programs, initiatives, and conversations feel approachable, relevant, and meaningful.
Why is Houston special?
This hit me once while I was at an event connected to Project Row Houses: Phillip Pyle II organized a group of experimental musicians to play while pro wrestlers had a series of matches in Emancipation Park. Despite its many flaws, Houston is just a cool city that offers unique experiences. You want to see some cool art? Check. Prefer that art is informed by the community it impacts? Not a problem. In the mood for the most diverse culinary selection you may ever find? We’ve got you. Want to watch Japanese wrestling in the middle of a mall or luchadors in someone’s backyard? It’s happening at some point in the next year.