In recent history, the United States has seen momentum toward coalition-led change followed by a pendulum swing to coalition-led polarization. Attempts at civil discourse in public forums established to resolve differing views often collapsed. Partisans used false narratives, conspiracy theories, and misinformation as deliberate tactics to ensure that fair-minded discourse devolved into hardened, side-taking fights. Public forums turned into brawls of opposing sides, including partisan interpretations of the U.S.’s very own Constitution. We no longer appear to be a country of communities bound by shared American values – our collective story has been diminished and the meaning of what it is to be an American is uncertain.

Facing this, can we envision a compelling, powerful narrative that all Americans can own? Can the arts, in all forms, inspire humanity to unite as citizens of one nation, motivated by a common purpose and mission to move the American experiment consciously forward? Radical Unity believes we can.

We envision a United States inspired by its diversity, which honors the power of creativity, and manifests a future that celebrates and uplifts everyone. Creative works within a community have the opportunity to provide a shared experience that brings people together, regardless of who they are or what they believe. This can be through a shared sense of awe, humor, joy, sadness, or even the experience of something strange or thought-provoking. Radical Unity seeks to galvanize community around awareness of our Common Humanity through creative expressions.

In partnership with Mediators Foundation, this multi-year project begins our Pilot Year 2024 in two states, Arizona and Georgia, which currently rank 48th and 50th in arts funding per capita, respectively. These two states are home to a diverse range of people – geographically, racially, and politically – and as such, are fertile ground for this work.

Instead of coming into these states as well-meaning outsiders, we built a coalition of local organizations representing the arts and culture, economic development, and civic engagement spaces to form a “Selection Committee” for each state. Four individuals in each state have been selected from the pool of applicants by this committee to produce creative expressions, in any medium, that can engage their community and “strengthen the civic fabric,” our theme for the year.  [Civic fabric includes a wide variety of topics, including civic education, increased service and volunteer opportunities, and other components described below.*]

Applications were open from 5/1 - 6/24 on callforentry.org. The selected individuals receive $15,000 of funding to realize their creative visions by early October. Through these proposals, we sought geographic diversity across the state, especially in communities lacking sufficient investment in arts and culture, along with a diversity of creatives and types of expressions. We hope these works bring unexpected ways to engage locals, heal the fracturing of society, and inspire community members to build bridges across differences.

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Radical Unity Grant:

Arizona Grantees:

1. Peniel Macias – in Tucson, AZ – creating a tile mosaic with the public painting the tiles and documenting the process through recorded interviews that will be a part of the final installation.

2. Sheeba Mays – in Buckeye/West Valley, AZ – developing an interactive art exhibit called “The Positivity Keychain,” where the community records encouraging messages that will later become a digital collective audiobook and widely distributed.

3. Dylan Jung – in Jerome, AZ – holding an event in the Jerome Community Garden and inviting the community to contribute to a mobile community mural board that will move throughout the town.

4. Priscilla Rodriguez – in Nogales, AZ – hosting the Nogaleria Art Walk, an event focused on highlighting artists from throughout the region and giving them an in-person opportunity to connect with the community and government leaders. This event will include speeches from local government leaders, artists, and other non–profit organization leaders.

Georgia Grantees:

1. Emida Roller – in Washington, GA – creating a unification mural to engage the community through local history, conversation, and public participation in the artwork’s creation, including a mural fabric to be painted in various civic centers around town.

2. Autumn Gary – in Savannah, GA – casting a series of hands made with recycled aluminum – “The Resonance of Us” – representing the diversity of an intergenerational community that experiences the world through different perspectives, abilities, and modalities, to be installed at Savannah Speech & Hearing and Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision.

3. Shannon Willow – in Clarkston, GA – assembling a 9'x6’x5’ living ‘Heart of Mother Earth’ sculpture, made with a landscape fabric of preserved natural materials, to encourage the diverse community, many of which are refugees, to reflect on our relationship with nature and the wellbeing of future generations.

4. Ania Bartelmus – in Dalton, GA and Atlanta, GA – collaborating with the Latin American Association (LAA) to present comprehensive cultural workshops that share the “Language of Flamenco,” celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with an Artist and Food Market, children’s crafts, public dance workshops, and lecture-demonstration performances with live music and dance.

Follow along on our Instagram account (@radical.unity) to see these projects come to life this summer. We will also share periodic updates on this webpage, and appreciate your help in spreading the word about Radical Unity, to create the largest positive impact possible. Through these efforts, we hope to learn from both creatives and organizations about what brings people together on the local level, so we can further expand this project in 2025 and beyond.

Addendum: *What is a Strong Civic Fabric? 

"Civic fabric" refers to the social, cultural, and political connections and institutions within a community or society that hold it together. It encompasses the networks of relationships, shared values, and common interests that create a sense of belonging and solidarity among community members. The term emphasizes the idea that communities are woven together by various threads of civic engagement, participation in public life, and a commitment to the well-being of the whole community. Strengthening the civic fabric often involves fostering trust, cooperation, and activating community members to promote a vibrant and resilient community.

The components of civic fabric vary depending on the context, culture, and history of a particular community or society. However, some common elements include:

• Trust: Perhaps one of the greatest protective factors in our ability to overcome, or at least mitigate, the effects of crisis is trust. Trust in your community, government, information sources, and leaders is an indicator that the civic fabric is strong and that people will work together to recover from the crisis event. Trust is the glue that holds societies together. When it begins to erode, as we have seen in past years, so does the social fabric that binds us together. 

• Community Capacity: There are key elements that indicate a community can work together to adapt and be resilient in the face of a crisis. In other words, communities have capacity to do this when community members feel like they 

• are a valued member of the community, 

• have community pride, and 

• engage in the issues. 

Community capacity is important because it allows people to come together and form grassroots, intimate networks, which are the foundation of change. It perpetuates civility over fear and distrust. Most importantly, it allows people to create and act on a vision for future generations that is better than the current situation. 

• Civic Engagement and Volunteerism: Civic engagement encompasses a range of activities through which individuals participate in the public sphere and contribute to the common good. This includes voting, volunteering, attending community meetings, and advocating for social or political change.

• Trusted Leadership: An investment in re-establishing trust in leaders, political processes, elections, and the institutions that uphold society is critical if we are to come together to take on the challenges a community faces. It is critical that leaders are chosen fairly by the community and that they are accountable to the community.

• Institutions and Governance Structures: Strong civic fabric often relies on well-functioning institutions and governance structures. These institutions may include government agencies, non-profit organizations, community associations, and other formal and informal bodies that facilitate collective decision-making and problem-solving.

• Reliable Information: Having an ecosystem of information sources (e.g., television, radio, social media, text alerts, and tornado warning alarm systems) that is trustworthy, unbiased, and accessible to the mainstream public serves as an important aspect of the civic fabric. Media can also facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and perspectives within a community. These channels help to inform citizens, promote dialogue, and mobilize collective action.

• Education and Lifelong Learning: Education, both formal and informal, plays a vital role in building civic knowledge, skills, and values. Lifelong learning opportunities empower individuals to participate more effectively in civic life and contribute to the well-being of their communities.

• Cultural Diversity and Inclusion: Embracing and celebrating cultural diversity fosters a sense of belonging and social cohesion within a community. Inclusive policies and practices ensure that all members of society have equitable opportunities to participate in civic life and access resources and services.

By nurturing these components and strengthening the connections among them, communities can build a robust civic fabric that promotes resilience, inclusivity, and collective well-being.

Project Director Bio:

Joan Briggs, Relationship Manager and Philanthropy Specialist at TROVE, has over 15 years working with individuals and families on their philanthropic journeys. TROVE is committed to providing control and peace of mind for individuals, freeing up their time and focus to envision the impact they want to have on their communities and the greater world. As a Certified 21/64 Advisor, she has built deep knowledge in the generative space with a focus on intergenerational facilitation. Joan was a founding team member of ReFED, where she focused on building a multi-disciplinary collective to fulfill the funders’ vision. Over the past year, she has worked with the Galvan Initiative and A.W.E. (Accept, Welcome, Embrace) to create the launch plan for Radical Unity. The mission to galvanize communities around awareness of our common humanity through creative expression is aligned with her personal purpose and practice.