COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INC

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BELIEVES THAT SUPPORTING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY-ENGAGED ART PROJECTS ARE CRITICAL TO FOSTERING A VIBRANT, MORE CONNECTED SOCIETY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING GRANTS THAT SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND CREATIVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED PROJECTS. ONE OF OUR PRIMARY INITIATIVES IS OUR ARTISTS & CREATIVES GRANTS, WHICH AWARDS FUNDING TO THOSE PARTICULARLY IN MINORITY OR LGBQT COMMUNITIES MAKING OR PRESENTING CREATIVE WORK RELATING TO OR ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THESE PROJECTS ARE DIVERSE AND IMPACTFUL, SUCH AS PUBLIC MURALS THAT EXPRESS A COMMUNITY'S VOICE, VIDEOS AND PHOTOS THAT CAPTURE A COMMUNITY'S STORIES, AND INNOVATIVE WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN CONNECT THROUGH SHARED CREATIVE EXPERIENCES. IN 2024, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARDED 22 ARTISTS/CREATIVES WITH INDIVIDUAL GRANTS OF UP TO $2,500 EACH. SINCE OUR INCEPTION, WE HAVE AWARDED INDIVIDUAL GRANTS TO OVER 250 ARTISTS AND CREATIVES IN ITS COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING MANY WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD LESS ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL ARTS FUNDING. THESE TALENTED INDEPENDENT CREATIVES AND ARTIST COLLECTIVES ARE PRESENTING ART THAT ENGAGES COMMUNITIES IN NEW, DISTINCT AND IMAGINATIVE WAYS.

OUR CREATIVES-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, CONCEIVED IN COOPERATION WITH GRAND CENTRAL ART CENTER, BROADENS THE TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ARTIST RESIDENCIES. THE PROGRAM PLACED OUR CREATIVES IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND INVITED RESIDENTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CREATIVE PLACEMAKING COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS, FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF THIS MOVEMENT BY PROVIDING AN APARTMENT AND A STIPEND TO OUR CREATIVE AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP PLACE-BASED PROGRAMMING. IN PHOENIX, AZ WE CONTINUED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY ASSISTANCE, SPORTS, HEALTHY SNACKS, COMMUNITY GAMES. THEY CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN AT THE COMMUNITY. THE KIDS AT THIS COMMUNITY PAINTED A FOOD AND FRIENDS ANIME INSPIRED MURAL IN THE PROPERTY AND ENLARGED THE PAINTED ROCK GARDEN. TEENS PARTICIPATED IN A COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT PROJECT WITH MESA ARTS CENTER AND THE PHOENIX OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. WE SPONSORED A FIELD TRIP TO THE PHOENIX BALLET TO SEE THE NUTCRACKER. THE TEENS ALSO INSTALLED HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS WHICH CREATED A PATHWAY THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. WE CELEBRATED MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOL AND 8TH GRADE GRADUATIONS AND HELPED TO SEND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROM BY PURCHASING TICKETS AND FORMAL WEAR. WE PROMOTED EXERCISE THROUGH GROUP PLAY OF POKEMON GO AND CREATED AN ACTIVE POKEMON GO AREA ON THE PROPERTY TURNING THE MURALS AND ART INSTALLATIONS CREATED BY CE INTO POKE STOPS SO THAT THE YOUNGER KIDS CAN SAFELY PLAY POKEMON GO AT HOME ON THE WP PROPERTY. THIS WAS NEVER AVAILABLE PRIOR TO SPRING OF 2024 WHICH FORCED THE OLDER KIDS TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY TO PLAY THE GAME. FIELD TRIPS INCLUDED AN AIRPORT TOUR WITH A RETIRED PILOT. THE KIDS TOURED THE FLIGHT TOWER UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FAA AND LEARNED ABOUT CAREERS IN AVIATION. A TOUR TO THE GRAND CANYON GAVE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE NATIONAL PARK EXPERIENCE AND HELP FOSTER LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OUR PROTECTED LANDS.