Who We Are.

Theory of Change: Cooperation over Competition. 

Artists Designing Evolution (adé PROJECT), uses art as a vehicle to actualize equity, spark creative inquiry + reclaim the narrative.

To this end, we embody principles of cooperation with a five point theory of change – creative facilitation, entrepreneurship, service, training + education and storytelling – within a flagship artist residency, led by award-winning artist-in-residence Cortina Jenelle Caldwell in cooperation with other creatives, entrepreneurs, facilitators, historians, teaching artists and educators. The mission in action takes the form of creative placemaking projects, international cultural immersion trips, youth leadership programs, community events, public art, eco-cultural design and more, depending on the needs of the community being served.

Art is our RESPONSE.

Mission.

actualize equity, spark creative inquiry + reclaim the narrative.

Vision.

adé PROJECT is home for the cultivation of community through creativity and culture. It is our joy and hope to create spaces of holistic wellness and belonging so that we can exchange post-capitalist strategies for ancestral healing, collective liberation + creative entrepreneurship.

Origin Story.

Since 2018, Artists Designing Evolution (adé PROJECT)  has served as a hub for teams of all sizes to come together for trainings, public art projects, student workshops, artist residencies, heritage festivals, reparations-focused community surveying, conference production, art installations + exhibits and more. Check out our Designing Evolution page for just a drop in the bucket of what this work has looked like. After a short renaming period to Afraka Designing Emergence, the original name was re-adopted with a new passion for sharing our findings, practices and tools. For the next five years and beyond, a key focus is passing on the hard-earned wisdom to others who are seeking to skill up and strive towards liberation.

Goal + Objectives.

To actualize equity, adé PROJECT examines the power analysis, organizes collective action and builds leaders.

• We honor planetary wisdom by acknowledging those that came before us and committed their lives to living and creating from a cooperative mind.
  
• We honor the elders by seeking the treasure and wisdom of their lived experience. We weave this fabric of connection intentionally with youth.
• We honor the youth by designing programs that are experiential, hands-on, inclusive with a focus on afro-futurism, in addition to history as a celebration of the Black culture  that has shaped and influenced the world.
• We honor Mother Earth through projects, initiatives and service learning that centers waste reduction, beautification, recycling + reducing of waste through upcycled art or repurposing of materials, waterway cleanup (prioritizing rivers and oceans when necessary) and securing support for farmers, pollinators, healers and spiritual practitioners working on and with natural materials for their goods and services.
  
• We contribute to economic mobility by creating jobs, facilitating contracts, negotiating partnerships, and securing capital that will land directly in the hands of those making the most impact for good.
• We work cooperate closely with those seeking to cooperate with us and incubate, nurture, and support individuals, businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations that share our vision to restore balance to the planet.

To spark creative inquiry, adé PROJECT curates transformational experiences that allow the imagination to lead and creativity to flourish as we explore history, culture, humanities, social justice, education, public policy and organizing.

• We use creative facilitation as a tool for navigating change, strategic planning, and resolving community conflicts and teach this to others.
  
• We provide support for strategic planning + change management by working directly with entrepreneurs, small businesses, tour operators, orgs and education hubs seeking a creative process of building or innovating their work. 
• We engage students and professionals in creative inquiry projects that address community needs and hardship.
  
• We serve as a resource connector for grants, opportunities, contracts, proposals, conferences, workshops, trainings, and scholarships that will advance professional and personal development for those working in the artistic leadership space.
  
• In our work, we weave together the worlds of business, education, the arts + culture, social science/work, healing, civic engagement and social justice to address the deep complexity and interconnected-ness of the issues we face.

To reclaim the narrative, adé PROJECT centers the the Black experience through storytelling and cultural gathering organized by members of the Black community or those most impacted by disparity.

• We collaborate with community-led, and community-supported news and media platforms that center the celebration of Black culture.
• We curate cultural performances, artist residencies and [virtual + in-person] community events that spark dialogue about liberation, belonging and how to continue to weave together our stories in the puzzle of our beautiful history.
• We advocate for our people and challenge inequity with tool kits for liberation and ways to share best practices.
• We publish digital works that are a collection of  interviews, celebration of creative culture (i.e. culinary, visual, cinematic, musical and various other art forms) and the writings + stories of organizers, changemakers, communities, healers and students on the subject(s) of culture, heritage, preservation, truth, reconciliation + healing.
  
• We share our story and go about living our lives in accordance with our values, leading a purpose-driven life.