HARNESS is hosting a series of artist salons and community gatherings to harness the power of storytelling and community to ignite civic engagement. Our goal is to resource and coordinate emergent strategies that foster innovative and impactful collaborations between artists and social justice organizers from underserved communities.
Protect the Sacred educates and empowers the next generation of Native leaders and allies to use transformative storytelling and community building to strengthen Indigenous sovereignty and protect Indigenous elders, languages, and medicine ways. We create a world where ancestral resilience and generations of traditions echo through Indigenous youth and their creativity; where Indigenous voices not only survive but thrive; where hope is restored, lighting the way forward for the next seven generations.
iwillharness.com/program/protect-the-sacred/
Saved by a Story
Saved by a Story’s Community Writing Workshop for Former Foster Youth will offer a safe, affirming, inclusive space that creates a sense of belonging for young people who are transitioning out of the foster care system. This prompt-driven writing workshop will help former foster youth get their story to the page, create a cohesive narrative of their life experiences, build community with each other and elevate well being through writing. The workshop will put youth in community with others who have experienced a life of foster care and who are now transitioning to adulthood with scant support in place–a space where young people can be free of stigma and lean into their strengths and wisdom and share their stories.
https://www.savedbyastory.com/community-writing-groups
Brown Girls Doc Mafia (BGDM)
Brown Girls Doc Mafia (BGDM)’s Sustainable Artist Micro-Grants offer women and non-binary filmmakers of color financial support, impact mentorship, industry access, and a strong community to embolden their creative practice and develop deeper sustainability for their careers. The 2025 cohort will prioritize directors and producers that seek to leverage storytelling for cultural and social change. The three selected recipients will also receive in-kind benefits through BGDM’s robust year round programming which prioritizes visibility for underrepresented artists, and centers wellness, care, joy, and community.
Website: https://browngirlsdocmafia.org
The Center for Art and Advocacy/Right of Return
The Center for Art and Advocacy will bring together system-impacted artists, cultural leaders, and advocates to explore the role of art in justice reform at the Los Angeles Right of Return Fellows Convening to take place alongside Frieze LA. The event will showcase the work of Right of Return fellows and the Frieze LA Impact Prize winner, focusing on how storytelling can challenge mass incarceration in the United States. Attendees will engage in discussions, share experiences, and network, promoting collaboration and amplifying the impact of art in advocacy efforts.
We are deeply honored to be among the first grantees of the Michael Latt Legacy Fund. Michael’s passion for creativity as a force for healing, joy, and connection truly reflects what we strive for at The Center for Art & Advocacy. His commitment to supporting artists from underrepresented communities and using storytelling to foster social change aligns perfectly with our mission to amplify the voices of system-impacted artists. By bringing these artists together at the Los Angeles Right of Return Fellows Convening, we are not only celebrating their work but also continuing Michael’s legacy of building inclusive spaces where creativity and imagination can inspire real cultural transformation.
BLD PWR
Free Yo’ Mind is a healing justice initiative by BLD PWR focused on mental health care for Black and Indigenous men. Through immersive experiences such as True: an Immersive Experience, it combines live events, multimedia storytelling, and community engagement to challenge harmful media narratives and inspire systemic change. In addition to live events, the project continuously updates its Liberate Mental Health resource page, providing an evolving list of mental health resources, uplifting the work of partner organizations, and ensuring ongoing access to culturally relevant tools and support for Black and Indigenous communities.
https://www.bldpwr.com/liberate-mental-health
Songs from the Hole and Question Culture
The impact campaign for Songs from the Hole centers around a national tour of free community events for incarcerated people and people from communities impacted by interpersonal and state violence. The events feature screenings of Songs from the Hole and are followed by guided healing circles facilitated by JJ’88, richie and other currently and formerly incarcerated facilitators”.’
Art in Action: The Michael Latt Artivist Accelerator Program
The Micheal Latt Legacy Fund x SoLa Foundation will host a powerful 12-week program for ten young adults (ages 16-21) from South LA interested in arts, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. This initiative will explore these opportunities for art and activism through workshops, programming, and events featuring prominent artists and creatives of color. Honoring the work and advocacy of Michael Latt–the program aims to inspire and educate the next generation of artistic and entrepreneurial leaders in Greater South Los Angeles.
About SoLa Impact’s Foundation
The SoLa Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit affiliate of SoLa Impact, aims to improve the lives of South LA residents and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing opportunities for education and economic mobility. SoLa’s Technology and Entrepreneurship Center Powered by Riot Games is a state-of-the-art, first-of-its-kind center at the heart of South Central Los Angeles. SoLa provides the community with skills-based technology programming and scholarships, and career development opportunities for underinvested communities to ensure Black and brown Angelenos get increased access to jobs, mentorship, and placement in the most competitive fields of business.
Learn more at www.thesolafoundation.org
Leading With Love, together with Spark Features, has created a Marketing Impact Grant.
For three years, 2024-2026, the Michael Latt Legacy Fund/Spark Features Marketing Impact Grant will support a first feature film directed by a bold new artist from an underrepresented community that will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The $12,500 grant, provided by a generous contribution from Josh Peters and Robina Riccitiello will support a marketing campaign that will create excitement around the film through social media and the hiring of a publicist. The intention is to provide expansive opportunities to engage audiences and potential distributors.
Founded in 2022 by producers Robina Riccitiello and Josh Peters, Spark Features aims to support the work of emerging and diverse voices in film—with a particular focus on socially conscious subject matter.