PROJECT SHOWCASE INDEX
Below is an index of films, organized by reigon, representing 23 projects over 6 Counties/Agencies.
At the top of each county region is their highlight project.
Regions
Monterey | San Benito | Santa Barbara | Santa Cruz | San Luis Obispo | Ventura
MONTEREY COUNTY
El Sistema USA Salinas, Inc
Amy Burkman collaborates with El Sistema and YOSAL on a year-long project that leverages the power of orchestras as community-building tools. Featuring five strategic city murals with QR codes linking to a powerful documentary, the initiative fosters youth opportunities, personal growth, and strengthened community bonds through the transformative impact of art and music.
Artist : Amy Burkman
Videographer : Jess Soriano
SafeAG Safe Schools
Brenda Avila Hanna's documentary sheds light on the vital mission of Safe Ag Safe Schools, emphasizing the intersection of art and activism in promoting safe agricultural practices and combating pesticide exposure in Central Coast farmworker communities.
Artist : Brenda Avila Hanna
Videographer : Jess Soriano
The Village Project
The Village Project, Inc., a mental health agency serving underserved communities, partnered with Monterey artist Adam Gota through a CCCC grant to bring art in the form of murals and canvas paintings to the organization.
Artist : Adam Gota
Videographer : Nate Eramaa
SAN BENITO COUNTY
Indian Canyon Research
Jonathan Bunting serves as the artistic director of Costanoan Indian Research, where he connects with the community by documenting their stories and creating art for therapeutic healing, addressing the challenges of capturing their historical achievements on sacred Ohlone land in Indian Canyon Nation.
Artist : Jonathan Bunting
Videographer : Alfredo Avila
San Benito County Clerk - Recorder - Elections
Venecia Prudencio, a multidisciplinary Latinx artist, creates a documentary that showcases initiatives to boost voter engagement in the Latino Spanish-speaking community by using artwork to clarify the voting process and providing essential services to empower San Benito County residents as informed, civically active citizens.
Artist : Venecia Prudencio
Videographer : Alfredo Avila
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
Lumina Alliance
Emily Franklin and Wen Lazo Dowdy's "Petals of Consent" project uses a reflective labyrinth of mirrors to educate and empower individuals against sexual assault and intimate violence, fostering personal growth and community engagement.
Artists : Wen Lazo-Dowdy, Emily Franklin
Videographer : Mark Santos
RACE Matters SLO County
Tracy Morgan's "Beat Party" initiative brings local youth together through lively drum circles throughout San Luis Obispo, using the power of music to foster community engagement and promote racial justice while celebrating diverse artistic expressions.
Artist : Tracy Morgan
Videographer : Mark Santos
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Awakening Giantz
Artist Brett Nance partners with Awakening Giantz to empower young adults exiting the foster care system through mentorship and the comic book series Awakening Stories, featuring their personal journeys and the mascot bear Bobby.
Artist : Brett Nance
Videographer : Alisa Lara
‘A’ Laleqwel Hil ‘Tomto’mó’l (Maker of Canoes)
In Tomol, artist and master Tomol builder Marcus Lopez and apprentice Steven Villa share their connection to the people and the cultural significance of Tomol ship-making, a traditional art of the Chumash people.
Artist : Marcus Lopez
Videographer : Tonalli Garcia-Rodriguez
Blue Sky Sustainable Living Center
Paso Paso ("Step by Step") is a project led by resident artist Liz Fish in partnership with the organization Blue Sky. The project features two spaces: one representing Blue Sky as a shop and the other as a community gathering area.
Artist : Liz Fish
Videographer : Elizabeth Herring
Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc
Rico Rivera’s movable mural project engages local artists and indigenous tribes at the Intertribal Wellness Conference, fostering community participation and mental health education while supporting the health center's mission to provide accessible, quality healthcare to medically underserved populations.
Artists : Yurico ‘Rico’ C. Rivera Vera
Videographer : Juan Villasenor Madriz
Family Service Agency
Resident artist Arnulfo Navarro in collaboration with Family Services Agency (FSA) and the CCCC, is working to create local opportunities for artists in Guadalupe. According to Samuel H. Duarte, Community Engagement Manager at FSA, “Art is part of mental well-being.”
Artists : Arnulfo Navarro, Stephanie Krouse
Videographer : Juan Villasenor Madriz
Freedom 4 Youth
David Lopez collaborates with Freedom 4 Youth (F4Y) to empower local youth through mural creation and design projects, fostering creativity and hope while supporting F4Y's mission to uplift young individuals affected by the criminal legal system.
Artists : David Flores
Videographer : Sammy Chavoya
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Housing Matters
Abi Mustapha uses her art to elevate the voices of those affected by Santa Cruz's housing crisis, fostering empathy through community-driven projects.
Artist : Abi Mustapha
Videographer : Michael Daniel
Esperanza Community Farms
Alan McDonald and Edwardo Rojas open the doors of Esperanza Community Farm in Watsonville, California, inviting people of all ages to explore organic farming, grow their own vegetables, and celebrate the connection between art, agriculture, and community.
Artists : Allan McDonald and Edwardo Rojas
Videographer : Alfredo Avila
Coastal Watershed Council
Muralists Augie WK and Jessica Carmen are raising awareness of the San Lorenzo River's health while connecting local communities to their environment through engaging mural projects.
Artists : Augie WK and Jessica Carmen
Videographer : Cristian Duran
Community Health Trust for Pajaro Valley
Eugenia Renteria, Isabel Contreras, and Carlos Campos have partnered with the Community Health Trust for Pajaro Valley to spotlight critical public health issues through film, experiential design, and visual storytelling.
Artists : Eugenia Renteria, Carlos Campos, Isabel Contreras
Videographer : Luis Mendoza
VENTURA COUNTY
County of Ventura
Nicole Taylor and John Arndt created a 15-minute song cycle inspired by the experiences of clients, staff, and volunteers at the Family Justice Center. Based on interviews conducted by Nicole, Fernando Salinas crafted poems that Nicole sang to music composed by John, weaving community stories into a powerful artistic expression
Artist : Nicole Taylor
Videographer :
Lucha Inc
Javier Gomez, a former student turned teacher at the Inak Cultural Arts Center, is dedicated to empowering children from agricultural families by helping them connect with their heritage and become future community leaders.
Artist : Javier Gomez
Videographer : Julio Alcala
Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project
The project celebrates and preserves indigenous culture by showcasing intricately woven art and engaging the community in meaningful artistic expression.
Artist : Eduardo Jimenez
Videographer : Miguel Orozco
Nyeland Promise
Muralists Elisa Torres and Lisa Kelley have transformed Nyeland Acres by creating thirteen vibrant murals, engaging community members in the design and painting process to foster pride and a sense of ownership.
Artists : Elisa Torres, Lisa Kelly
Videographer : Miguel Orozco
Santa Paula Latino Town Hall
Saul Escovedo directs a stop-motion film workshop at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Paula, empowering children who love animation and supporting Santa Paula Latino Town Hall's mission to expand educational opportunities in the community.
Artists : Saul Escobedo, Juliana Acosta
Videographer : Julio Alcala
Ventura County League of United Latin American Citizens (VC LULAC)
Fernando Albert Salinas created the mental health podcast Reshaping Identity 805 La Cultura Cura, which provides a platform for personal storytelling and connects participants to local resources while fostering community through a unique photo booth experience.
Artists : Fernando Albert Salinas
Videographer : Julio Alcala