What does it take for communities to have true decision-making power, control of their own narratives and systems for mutual care? Culture is a critical — and often overlooked — part of the answer. This Next City webinar, sponsored by Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program, brings together cultural leaders from New Orleans and Memphis to share how arts and culture are central to community power building in their cities. The conversation also introduces the Culture & Community Power Fund, a new initiative uniting philanthropic partners around this essential work.

The webinar explores how culture enables shared decision-making, community ownership, and mechanisms for mutual aid and healing. You can also hear Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes of Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Grammy-nominated artist Justin Merrick of the Center for Transforming Communities and Erik Takeshita of the Culture & Community Power Fund discussing how culture strengthens community resilience, narrative control and care systems in a Next City podcast.