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Here all of our resources are collected together. Find a resource based on a geography, issue, cultural practice, or impact by using the map and menus below. 
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Cultural Organizing Working Definition and Framework
Workshops
Something Else is Possible
Some of the most powerful change happens in the intersections of generations, cultures, sectors, and geographies. Collected here are stories about these intersections and the people who make them. They are strategic artists and creative organizers, activist anthropologists, poetic politicians, and loving family members. All are engaged in the deeply creative act of believing that something else is possible.
SEIU Collaboration
- Video by Linebreak Media about Arts & Democracy collaboration with SEIU
- Video by Thenmozhi Soundararajan from her collaboration with SEIU Local 521
Arts & Democracy Poster at Othering and Belonging Conference
Arts & Democracy is partnering with our allies in Kentucky to share a poster at the Othering and Belonging Conference in Louisville October 9 and 10, 2026! Arts & Democracy board member Judi Jennings will present our poster which shares examples of how arts and culture strengthens belonging in New York City and across Kentucky.
Muslim Women Write the Body
Muslim Women Write the Body was a series of workshops organized with writer Roohi Choudhry (Nov-May, 2022), focused on Muslim identity and the gray areas of faith, particularly for women. Participants explored their identities in relation to past, present, and future, considering gender, culture and more. Choudhry and guest artists Nsenga Knight, Demo Ibrahim, Hala Shah, Aizzah Fatima led workshops on Zoom with follow up debrief and coaching sessions. The creative work was presented live at our annual Community Iftar on the Avenue C Plaza.
Community Iftar
Getting Out the Vote with the Arts!
Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2022
Arts & Democracy and Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY) presented Cultural Organizing for Community Change, a virtual event on January 8th. Workshop presenters included Jose Richard Aviles, Sage Crump, amalia deloney, Dustin Gibson, Kayhan Irani, Maxine Rebeles, James Rojas, Juan Ruiz, Carlton Turner, The United States Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC), Ayako Maruyama, Urban Bush Women, and Rosten Woo.
Storytelling in Crisis
The virtual dialogue, Storytelling in Crisis, presented by Storyline, Arts & Democracy, The Laundromat Project, Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY) and US Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC) explored strategies for crafting storytelling responses that center care and connection, amplify resistance, and support resiliency. We heard from storytellers who have learned from their experience of making work grappling with pandemics; epidemics; and natural, social, political and economic disasters. Michael Premo (Storyline) facilitated a discussion with Steven Thrasher (Northwestern University), Nick Slie (Mondo Bizarro, Cry You One, I -10 Witness Project), and Regina Campbell (Rikers Public memory Project).
Midwest , Northeast , Southeast , Criminal Justice , Health , Human Rights / Social Justice , Film / Video / Audio / Digital , Theater / Performance / Spoken Word , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement , Political Engagement , Policy / Law Change
Program
Prokash / Reveal
Led by artist Monica Jahan Bose, the bilingual workshop series Prokash/Reveal took place from July - Oct 2021 providing an opportunity for immigrants and first generation youth to bridge multigenerational points of views related to identity, immigration, and biculturalism. The culminating performance on October 9 at the Ave C Plaza in Kensington, Brooklyn featured a community scroll that connected the tapestries created by participants and an open mic.
Northeast , Environment , Human Rights / Social Justice , Immigration , Visual Art , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Community Engagement
Program
Kensington Cares
Kensington Cares honored community members who led mutual aid efforts in Kensington, Brooklyn. We created this public art exhibition at the Ave C Plaza with photographers Anna and Jordan Rathkopf, Photoville, and ArtBuilt. Programming around the exhibit included a community celebration honoring the groups featured in the photographs and a neighborhood food tour. The exhibit was included in Photoville's fall festival and featured at our October concert on the plaza.
Northeast , Health , Human Rights / Social Justice , Visual Art , Community Engagement
Program
A Quest for Home Upside Down Edition
Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2020
National , Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building
Program
Activating the Cultural Power of a Movement
On Oct 9, 2020, Arts & Democracy, The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, and NOCD-NY convened Activating the Cultural Power of a Movement, an event that showcased inspiring, movement based organizations across the country. The webinar featured presentations by leaders from racial justice, environmental justice, immigrant rights, and economic justice groups including Michelle Ramos (Executive Director, Alternate ROOTS), Angeles Solis (Director of Worker Organizing, Make the Road Action), Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson (a member of Movement for Black Lives’ policy table leadership team), Charon Hribar (Revivals Coordinator, Poor People's Campaign), and Nina Eichner (Creative Projects Manager, Sunrise Movement).
Artwork by Melanie Cervantes, Dignidad Rebelde
We Decide: Arts, Culture, and Voting Power
Arts & Democracy joined with The US Department of Arts and Culture to convene We Decide: Arts, Culture, and Voting Power to learn how arts, culture, and creative media can reimagine our democracy and revitalize civic participation, with a focus on historically disenfranchised communities. We heard from artists and cultural organizers working in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin as well as those working nationally. Presenters included Andrea Assaf, Dr. Rob “Biko” Baker, Trupania “Trap” Bonner, amalia deloney, and Savannah Romero and call participants shared their work as well.
Artwork by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
National , Midwest , Southeast , Southwest , Cultural / Media Policy , Democracy , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building
Program
Staying In It With You
A 2020 Bridge Conversation by Ron Ragin and Judi Jennings
NOCD-NY
- NOCD-NY website
PB NYC
- Participatory Budgeting video by Meerkat Media
- Participatory Budgeting NYC website
We Count!
Every 10 years the constitution of the United States of America requires that every single person living in this country be counted, everyone. It is not merely a head count, it is the basis of our democracy and it informs and influences our lives. As a cultural community we can play a special role to make sure that the communities that we care about are counted in the 2020 census. This Op Ed by The Laundromat Project, Arts & Democracy, and Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY is a call to action to the cultural community to make sure that everyone gets counted.
Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2019
A Quest For Home
Every Saturday morning for six weeks, 10 strangers with different paths came together to write away their thoughts. At first, they all believed they had nothing in common. But they all yearned for love and acceptance. They were all on a quest for home. Read here about this journey and download the Zine that grew out of this workshop with Roohi Choudhry.
Northeast , Human Rights / Social Justice , Immigration , Literary , Multi / Inter-disciplinary
Program
Walking the Talk: Putting Racial and Cultural Equity Values into Practice
- Personal Practice in Working Towards Racial Equity, Kathy Hsieh
- Practical Real Talk About Equity, Keryl McCord
National , Cultural / Media Policy , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Policy / Law Change
Program
Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2018
