Art and Social Change

100 Families: Art and Social Change is dedicated to enlivening the creative spirit, celebrating and strengthening the power and health of families and their communities through the transformative process of creating art. This program brings together diverse and intergenerational families in their own community with the purpose of enhancing the well-being of the family unit. Through the collective experience of creating art together, the family circle is nurtured while families also build relationships with their neighbors and strengthen the larger community. Through the resources on this website, we hope to inspire the spread of 100 Families initiatives around the globe.

 

Initially established as 100 Families Oakland: Art and Social Change, the program was founded in 2004 by F. Noel Perry, artist and venture capitalist, who was inspired by Mildred Howard’s artwork Wild, Wild West: 21st c. Series, responding to 114 murders that took place in Oakland in 2003. Perry who viewed Howard’s work at the Oakland Museum was moved to act. Believing in the transformative power of art and the relationship of strong families to healthy communities, Perry envisioned the program as a counterpoint to escalating violence in Oakland neighborhoods. “If we can strengthen the family,” said Perry, “maybe we can strengthen the neighborhood, then maybe the city, and reduce the violence. Just the act of picking up a paint brush can alter a person’s self-esteem and change their outlook.” Mr. Perry collaborated with various partners, including the California College of the Arts’ (CCA) Center for Art and Public Life, to develop the program.

 

The Program’s Structure Diverse and intergenerational families come together to learn about and create art in a series of visual arts workshop sessions led by local, community-engaged teaching artists. Up to 25 families from the selected neighborhood participate in the program at a time. The arts workshop sessions are offered in different neighborhoods throughout Alameda County. Each neighborhood site offers a variety of arts that draw on the families' experiences, both personal and cultural. All art materials are provided, along with guidance and encouragement from local artists. In addition, the program provides a communal neighborhood meal at each session and features a culminating event that celebrates the accomplishments of the families.

 

Family Artwork Gallery