Designing for Collective Vision: Engaging a Citywide Arts Community to Reimagine JCAST
Overview
My Roles: Secretary & Executive Creative Director
As Secretary of the Executive Committee, I co-led the design and execution of a citywide community forum focused on reimagining the future of JCAST. I facilitated experience strategy, structured the meeting format, and led the development of a public-facing Community Feedback Report that synthesized key insights into actionable next steps.
Duration: 2024–Present
Disciplines: Community Engagement, Event Strategy, Facilitation, Experience Design, Synthesis & Reporting, Arts Advocacy
opportunity
A Beloved Cultural Event, at a Crossroads
The Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST) began as a grassroots initiative in 1990, growing into the city’s most celebrated cultural event. But over time, rapid development, shifting community needs, and inconsistent leadership created a disconnect. In 2024, it became clear: JCAST needed to evolve— not just logistically, but in spirit.
The Jersey City Arts Council (JCAC) stepped in not to run the event, but to guide a visioning process grounded in community voice, equity and collaboration.
Creative Highlights
1. JCAST Community Vision Forum
Designing a Community-Led Event to Inspire the Next Chapter
We organized a participatory forum that brought together ~50 residents, artists, and cultural leaders at the Mary McLeod Bethune Center. The goal wasn’t to critique the past, it was to co-create a shared vision for what JCAST could become.
Workshops and group facilitation conducted by myself and other board members.
What I led:
Structured the event agenda with Cultural Affairs and JCAC leadership
Designed breakout activities for brainstorming, group synthesis, and community storytelling
Facilitated live group ideation and cross-segment presentations
Created a synthesis framework to categorize feedback into strategic themes
Supported community building and volunteer activation during the event
Key Outcomes:
Surface-level feedback was transformed into a rich, strategic report of 8 core insights
Themes included inclusive access, community connection, artist opportunity, cultural impact and innovation
Ideas shared will directly inform future JCAST strategy under Cultural Affairs’ guidance
Strengthened JCAC’s position as a trusted convener and advocacy partner
2. Storytelling Through Strategy: Creating the Feedback Report
Turning Community Ideas into a Strategic Roadmap
Post-event, I led the creative direction and synthesis of “The Future of JCAST: Community Feedback Report,” a public document capturing the ideas, aspirations and priorities voiced at the forum.
What I led:
Developed a narrative arc that honored JCAST’s roots while pointing to its potential
Synthesized 100+ participant insights into eight guiding themes
Collaborated with stakeholders to anonymize responses while preserving emotional truth
Designed the report’s structure and tone to feel accessible, hopeful and actionable
Key Themes Captured:
Inclusive Access, Community Connections, Artist Opportunities, Strategic Promotion, Diverse Expression, Event Logistics, Cultural Impact & Future Innovation
Key Results:
Report shared with the Office of Cultural Affairs for planning in 2025 and beyond
Distributed publicly to build transparency and sustain momentum
Positioned JCAC as a civic design partner, translating ideas into action
3. Advocacy & Arts Council Evolution
Elevating the Role of Designers in Cultural Governance
My work extended beyond the event. I’ve helped shape JCAC’s emerging strategy by introducing experience design thinking into how we organize, program and advocate.
What I’ve contributed:
Helped rebrand JCAC’s public-facing identity through design strategy and stakeholder interviews
Proposed digital infrastructure upgrades to improve community access and storytelling
Began ideation on new artist-centered programming and local campaigns for arts equity
Impact to Date:
Strengthened JCAC’s role as a bridge between city leadership, cultural workers and residents
Modeled how designers, creatives and residents can shape public discourse and civic imagination
Built foundational trust with the Cultural Affairs team for future collaborations
Outcomes That Matter
Making Community Feedback Actionable, Not Abstract
Brought together 50+ stakeholders from across the arts ecosystem in one room
Delivered a polished, widely shared Community Feedback Report within two weeks
Synthesized community input into 8 actionable insights to shape policy and programming
Fostered ongoing dialogue between artists, city government and grassroots organizers
Contributed to re-positioning JCAC as a catalyst, not just a commentator, on cultural affairs
What I Learned
Civic Design is Community Building in Action
People want to be heard— but even more, they want their voices to shape what comes next
Strategic facilitation can transform scattered ideas into cohesive, future-ready vision
Advocacy is not just about art— it’s about access, equity, and imagination
Reports aren’t the end, they’re invitations for ongoing action