We work to invest in creative practices that strengthen resident agency, social cohesion and narrative control and that promote collective action for equitable and long-term change in neighborhoods.

Our Approach

We support neighborhood-based organizations and place-based approaches that advance creative practices in community-driven and resident-led initiatives across the United States and, in partnership with Kresge’s Detroit and American Cities Programs, in the foundation’s focus cities of Detroit, Memphis, and New Orleans. In this focus area, we strive to:

• Invest in community-based partners centering creative practices in inclusive, equitable and sustainable strategies.
• Support creative practices within participatory processes, such as action and culturally responsive research, where community leaders define what works in their communities.
• Integrate creative problem-solving and “placekeeping” into neighborhood and climate-related initiatives in focus cities and in partnership with other Kresge program teams.