{"id":5626,"date":"2024-01-03T19:18:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T19:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?post_type=update&p=5626"},"modified":"2026-03-09T16:54:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T16:54:44","slug":"what-we-learned-community-creativity-cohort","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/what-we-learned-community-creativity-cohort\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Learned: Community Creativity Cohort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2019, we partnered with Bush Foundation<\/a> on the Community Creativity Cohort 2, a program that worked with 40 community-based organizations across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations that share that geography.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participating organizations were primarily led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color; many were centered in rural communities. They shared regionality but were diverse in size, mission, structure, audience, and the communities they served.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of bringing these incredible organizations together was to support them in making art and culture central to problem-solving. The program leveraged three strategies to support that work: <\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n Grants\n <\/h3>\n
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    The 40 selected organizations received a $100,000 operating grant<\/span> and<\/span> the opportunity to access <\/span>additional<\/span> capacity-building and gathering funds<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \n Connectivity\n <\/h3>\n
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    The program <\/span>convened participants to help build relationships and encourage collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \n Capacity Building\n <\/h3>\n
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    The program offered <\/span>structured learning experiences<\/span>, intended to be emergent and <\/span>participant-led<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \n \"Jennifer\n\n
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    \n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Nedahness Greene<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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    \n Jennifer Martel, Sitting Bull College, describes her work to the CCC2 Cohort around herbal resilience and community wellness at the May 2022 CCC2 Retreat.\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n \n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    By the Numbers <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Community Creativity Cohort supported 40 organizations across the Bush Foundation\u2019s geography of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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