I had an inspiring experience at the 2025 GIA Annual Conference, "Building Solidarity, Rooted in Justice," in the Twin Cities, Minnesota—on the traditional lands of the Dakota and Ojibwe/Anishinaabe peoples. From October 19 to 22, I joined funders, artists, and cultural leaders to explore how the arts can heal communities, uplift Indigenous and Black leadership, and preserve untold histories. Through storytelling, dialogue, and site visits, we confronted erasure, challenged dominant narratives, and envisioned bold futures rooted in solidarity and justice.

Over these three days, I realized that real change begins with imagination. I practiced dreaming collectively about futures rooted in joy, equity, and community, and reflected on the unique role I’m called to play in creating a more just society. I saw how artists are reshaping economies, building solidarity, and reclaiming power in ways that challenge extractive systems and the non-profit industrial complex. Investing in infrastructure—including people, networks, and spaces—is essential to sustaining cultural work. I also learned about the power of trust: how providing resources to artists and cultural communities without strings attached can shift ecosystems.

Finally, I explored cross-sector collaborations, examining how cultural work intersects with health, climate, workforce, housing, and justice, and how partnerships can enhance impact. Most importantly, I’m inspired to move from values into action, turning ideals like equity, care, and joy into concrete steps in my own work at CA for the Arts.

Key takeaways

• Dreaming is the first step toward transformation.
• I have a unique role; my actions matter.
• Culture and community-led economies can reshape systems.
• Supporting infrastructure sustains change.
• Trust and radical redistribution empower communities.
• Collaboration beyond the arts expands impact.
• Values only matter when turned into action.

Left: Front: Laura Zabel (Executive Director, Springboard for the Arts), Jun-Li Wang (Associate Director, Springboard for the Arts), Eduardo Robles (Communications Director, California for the Arts). Back: Jamie Bennett (Lord Cultural Resources), Ted Russell (Program Consultant Lead, California for the Arts). Right: Rudy Guglielmo Jr. (Grantmaking Officer, Bush Foundation), Roberto Bedoya (Writer, Cultural Strategist), Eduardo Robles (Communications Director, California for the Arts).