Candelaria Silva

Candelaria was director of ACT (Arts, Culture & Trade) Roxbury from its inception in 1998 until August 2007. Among the arts events she founded were Roxbury Film Festival, Roxbury Open Studios, Roxbury Literary Annual, the Roxbury Discussion Series and the Business of Culture Series – professional development workshops for artists. She played a major role in the creation of the Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall, the rehabilitation of the grand former Irish Dance Hall.

An active blogger, Candelaria has been published as a short story writer, reviewer and essayist in such publications as the Bay State Banner, The Boston Globe, and The School/Library Journal. She hopes to have a book of essays, some inspired by her blogging, published. She is also a facilitator and trainer.

Candelaria is a board member of Discover Roxbury, Boston Foundation for Architecture, Wheelock Family Theatre, and Goddard College. She received the Top of the Arts Award for Individual Leadership in 2003 from The Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, the Drylongso Award from Community Change in November 2005, a 2006 Community Service Award from the Boston & Vicinity Club of the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., and the Community Catalyst Award from Madison Park Development Corporation at their fortieth anniversary gala.  She was a member of the Lead Boston Class of 2006 of the Boston Conference for Community and Justice and continues to be active in its alumni network.