Tichina Arnold

After getting her first taste of performing at her family’s church at age 4, Tichina Arnold began vocal training and performing onstage. Since then, Arnold has won two NAACP Awards and received acclaim for her starring roles on “Martin” and “Everybody Hates Chris.” Arnold’s film work includes “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Dance Flick” and “The Lena Baker Story.” Recently, she returned to her musical theater roots in her role as Evilene in the revival of “The Wiz” at the NY City Center. In addition to her acting career, Arnold has made extensive efforts to raise money for sick children in her work for organizations including The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation, Rally for Kids with Cancer, First Star for Children’s Rights and Cancer Schmancer.

Robin Bronk: If you had five minutes in the Oval Office with President Obama, what would you discuss with him? What issue would you like him to know about?

Tichina Arnold: The disparity and dilapidation in our public school system. Our children need us now more than ever. 

RB: If you could give President Obama one piece of advice, what would that be?

TA: Since I have no idea what it feels like to be the president of the United States, I am not in any position to give advice, but I am in a position to give my support and understanding. 

RB:  If you could ask President Obama one question, what would that be?

TA: Did you expect to get this much opposition from the right? 

RB: Would you ever consider a political career?

TA: No way. I would only like to be a person/vessel who gets the facts and passes them on to educate individuals to better equip themselves to make the right choices. 

Bronk is a seasoned Capitol Hill strategist and advocate. She started her career at The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group for the arts and entertainment industry, in July 1998. During her tenure as CEO, Bronk has taken The Creative Coalition from a New York-based entity to a national organization. www.thecreativecoalition.org