Artwork for Equity: Catalyzing Place-Based Change Through Art and Design

Place-based initiatives hold transformative potential when rooted in equity and driven by community action. Join Dr. Terresa Moses—Owner of Blackbird Revolt and Black Garnet Books, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, and Director of Design Justice at the University of Minnesota—and Antionette D. Carroll, Founder, President, and CEO of Creative Reaction Lab, for an engaging fireside chat on how art and design serve as powerful tools for community mobilization and systemic change.

Drawing from their extensive expertise in creative organizing, social entrepreneurship, abolitionism, and graphic design, Dr. Moses and Carroll will explore how community-based art initiatives can illuminate historical and ongoing inequities experienced by Black and Latino/a/x/e communities while simultaneously celebrating their resilience and achievements.

In this interactive session, attendees will:
– Examine compelling case studies highlighting how art and design have strengthened local advocacy and tackled place-based equity challenges.
– Learn actionable strategies for embedding culturally responsive, community-driven art into broader development initiatives across urban, rural, and Indigenous settings.
– Discover methods for scaling grassroots movements into sustainable, institutionalized community development models that prioritize health, education, cultural heritage, and holistic well-being.

Participants will leave equipped with practical insights and adaptable frameworks for utilizing art and design to drive impactful place-based change, bolster community identity, build resilience, and catalyze equitable economic and social advancement.