Kate Balug, another Creative Community Fellows alum, writes powerfully about narrow definitions of "community" and how her work seeks to do the opposite by breaching walls to promote inclusiveness. After several years of working as an artist in under-resourced neighborhoods in the US, I developed an uneasy relationship with the notion of “community.” In particular, I noticed that local non-profit organizations like community development corporations benefit politically from deploying the term ideologically. Local governments count on such … [Read more...]

Justina Crawford is a Creative Community Fellows alum who works for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her picture of community is impacted by current events and reflects creating more inclusive environments. After living in Boston for almost two years, I’ve often pondered the definition of community as I become acclimated to new spaces, faces, languages, and environments that continue to shift based upon perceptions. I once defined community as a group of like minded people with similarities. But I feel like this mindset is toxic because it … [Read more...]

Jean Mineo recalls a memory that left a powerful impression on how communities form and our ability to go out and create them. In managing a number of large-scale community-wide events, I find a sense of community can emerge from shared experiences and collaboration in preparation, presentation and as an audience member. Oftentimes, the process of creating the event is where social bonds are deepened. A recent experience in my church showed me a different example of how relationships can start quietly, with a very small spark and no intended … [Read more...]

Kate Schapira shares three stories about the needs that form a community and the effort it takes to be a part of one. Late summer, 2017: for a project, I needed many small drawings of organisms that live in Rhode Island, and I didn't have time to make enough on my own, so I put out a call for help on Twitter. A mix of old friends and newer acquaintances showed up, most from my own neighborhood, one or two from across town. They, my partner and I sat on the porch with pens, cards, field guides, and snacks as the day lengthened into evening. By … [Read more...]

New Creative Community Fellow Jesse Keller Jason sends her thoughts on "What does community mean to you?" with a photo from a community she holds dear. … [Read more...]

In this photo essay, Jane Wegscheider reflects on her non-human community and explores how her connection to her garden affects how she interacts with her human community. My community begins with the earth, by which I mean: dirt, soil, the varied browns that I dig into, walk in, watch things grow out of. What I think of as my community begins [quite physically] in the place I call home. There are different grasses, early flowering perennials, phlox taking over, invasive species everywhere, straggly strawberry plants in a weedy bed … [Read more...]

Sheila Novak is a member of many communities and shares the myriad ways they overlap in a colorful drawing. … [Read more...]

Gowri Savoor reflects on the warm and evolving community of her childhood in Britain and shares original art that commemorates her cherished memories. I had a fortunate childhood; living in the multicultural Britain of the 70’s, in the ethnically-diverse suburbs of Leicester, in the green and leafy village of Oadby, on a street where everyone knew my name. It’s when I think back to these days, that I think of the importance of community. I lived in a time when there were cups of sugar to be borrowed, gossip to be shared, kids to play out … [Read more...]

“What do you mean by the word community?” is a question I’m often asked when talking about the Creative Community Fellows program. And rightfully so. The term community is so over-used that it has become a buzzword in our arts and culture circle. For us at NAS, community is rooted in commonality and belonging, yet can be experienced in many different modalities – geographic, virtual, identity-based and more. Creative Community Fellows New England supports cultural entrepreneurs working at the intersection of culture and community. When … [Read more...]

In our last post of this series on community, Jordan Reeves shares his moving reflections on rediscovering the power of community through his own story of living authentically. I grew up in Hueytown, Alabama. It’s the kind of place that values sweet tea over life. It’s hard to drive down the street without waving at every car that passes. There’s a church on every corner, and our politicians speak with a typical southern drawl. In school, the bullies called me faggot. I wasn’t the only one they targeted. I became friends with another kid … [Read more...]

How did the turtle cross the road? The answer according to Greg Milo: thanks to a cardboard box and a community.   One Turtle and Four Humans As a former high school teacher and current organizer of community events, I feel that much of my success is contributable to the collaborative effort of an active community. Whether it’s collaborating with another teacher to organize experiences overseas for a group of engaged students or it’s facilitating community events that spark conversations among Akronites who might not otherwise … [Read more...]

Laura Gisler shares a beautiful meditation on what community means to her through these drawings and reflective, poetic words. hearts interdependently linked. growing/feeling/oxygenating/expressing/nurturing- nourishing/healing/supporting. cellularly to systemically. sustained: chloroplasticly by the sun, xylemicly by the soil. neurologic plasticity = to expand upon prismatic exposure [every color] existing fully in interaction-grounding the upward and outward growth. all known life [literally] connected. … [Read more...]