With support from the California Arts Council, Civic Design Studio will use CAC grant funds to expand our PROPA project – a multiyear ecological justice, arts and education initiative – that aims to work directly with youth and local artists to explore opportunities that support and expand environmental justice and land-based learning and practices through art and design in public spaces, libraries, schools, and parks.
Our core programs and services are Creative Industry Pathways and Urban Agroecology, focusing on education integration and industry pathway development in both sectors. All of our projects focus on bringing together local schools and artists, community, and creative industry partners towards civic change across a city and its underserved, diverse communities. We make an intentional effort to work with multigenerational and multi-ethnic communities to create public displays and spaces to affirm the expression and visibility of our diverse neighborhoods in the Bay Area. To demonstrate, with our Urban Agroecology initiative, we have worked alongside high school students and teachers to create environmentally focused large-scale art and design pieces aimed to improve local neighborhoods by enriching public spaces while expanding cultural zones. Already, we’ve facilitated urban agroecology projects where students constructed and installed over 100+ planters that are spread throughout East Oakland neighborhoods and small businesses as a way to increase environmental awareness and to foster sustainable practices. With our Creative Industry Pathways, we have held cultural events and art celebrations in Old Oakland and Chinatown from 2018 to present that bring together folks from all races, economic backgrounds, and ages to convene. In doing so, we worked with local businesses and merchants to facilitate the events and to bring positive recognition. We’ve also worked directly with local artists to create murals, art installations, and lantern displays that have been seen throughout Chinatown, East Oakland, Fruitvale and Little Saigon to symbolize the rich history and cultures of those communities. Our impact programs work with local artists, schools, and cultural practitioners to help beautify the neighborhoods with public art and creative displays.

