With support from the California Arts Council, Neococo Collective will expand its arts-based empowerment program for forcibly displaced women and nonbinary individuals in Los Angeles. Through collaborative textile arts, storytelling, and entrepreneurship workshops, participants will gain creative expression, job training, and economic opportunity in a trauma-informed, multilingual environment. CAC grant funds will support teaching artist fees, culturally responsive materials, supportive services and stipends for participants, ensuring accessibility and sustained engagement. The program will culminate in a community exhibition celebrating participants artistic work and personal narratives, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and inclusion. This initiative not only nurtures artistic practice but also builds pathways to economic stability and community integration for immigrants navigating new lives in California.
Neococo Collective’s core programs and services center on empowering forcibly displaced women and nonbinary individuals through art, economic opportunity, and community building. Our primary initiatives include:
Arts-Based Workforce Development – Participants engage in textile arts training, storytelling, and design, gaining both creative and technical skills applicable to the workforce.
Paid Apprenticeships – Participants receive stipends while contributing to the production of ethically made goods, fostering financial independence and hands-on experience.
Wraparound Support Services – We offer trauma-informed care, multilingual education, childcare, transportation assistance, and a culturally responsive environment that ensures accessibility and safety.
Community Engagement – Public exhibitions, pop-ups, and storytelling events create space for cross-cultural exchange and visibility for immigrant voices.
These programs are designed to foster dignity, healing, and self-reliance through creativity and community.

