By: City of Davis Communications Department
CITY RELEASES FINAL REPORT ON $300K ARTS GRANT SUPPORTING HATE-FREE TOGETHER INITIATIVE
Aug. 11, 2025 – The City of Davis has released the final report summarizing activities and community feedback gathered through an artist-led engagement effort called Community Artists Research Engagement (CARE) in partnership with the Hate-Free Together initiative. Supported by a $300,000 grant awarded to the City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs program in 2024 by the California Arts Council’s California Creative Corps program, the artist-led activities focused on building belonging and fostering dialogue, inclusion and community connection across Davis.
The report, compiled by International House Davis, summarizes the more than 20 creative activities that took place during the summer and fall of 2024 to help identify social issues and raise awareness about instances of discrimination and hate and methods to promote joy and inclusion. Bike City Theatre Company, Davis Shakespeare Festival and Davis Repertory Theatre were the artistic partners who developed the CARE project with contributions by Davis podcaster and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) expert Bahia Yackzan and local media artist jesikah maria ross. The report can be found at: https://hatefreetogether.org/learning-center/.
Participants of the 20+ activities included over 100 K-12 students, a dozen educators, a neighborhood association, five nonprofit organizations, two government entities, a major university, five consultants and over 60 theatre artists and musicians. Over 2,000 community members in the cities of Davis and Woodland attended events or programs. Some of the activities included:
- PowerUp! Summer Programming: Approximately 100 rising fourth through sixth grade students built vocabulary and English language skills through inclusive and participatory theatre games, uplifting those who are often socially and academically marginalized.
- Building Belonging Listening Sessions: Two sessions with 60+ participants were held in Davis neighborhoods to share experiences and generate ideas for future inclusion-centered efforts.
- “It’s Your Voice” Podcast: Ten episodes featuring Davis community leaders and advocates explored social justice topics and strategies for fostering belonging.
- “As We Recall” Reading: An original play chronicled the community effort to support equal rights for all learners and the LGBTQIA+ community during a Woodland school board recall.
Local artists used the civic practice approach, positioning theatre-makers and artists as key community strategists to hear local concerns and explore creative solutions. Each activity fostered connection among artists, between artists and audiences and across the broader community. Many participants described the events as powerful and affirming, sparking meaningful conversations around identity, cultural heritage and the role of art in building inclusive communities.
“Without this partnership, we couldn’t have achieved the degree of depth nor level of success with the multiple grassroots artistic works we created and supported,” said Davis Repertory Theatre Company Co-Artistic Directors Oona and Lucas Hatton. “This was a transformative opportunity for our company and the artists we work with.”
Through surveys done before and after some of the activities, 29% of respondents indicated that their awareness increased after the event they attended and 32% indicated that after this experience they were more likely to take action or change their behavior. Highly participatory activities were the most effective in increasing awareness and behavior change. These activities had the highest percentage of respondents indicating an increase in awareness (54%) and the highest increase in the likelihood of changing behavior or taking action. The report includes multiple, key recommendations to help Hate-Free Together, the City of Davis and the broader community to leverage civic support and resources, strengthen social cohesion to foster joy and create a more inclusive community for all.
“This report shows the power of bringing creativity and community together with purpose. The arts-based activities created welcoming spaces where all voices were valued,” said City of Davis Mayor Bapu Vaitla. “Hate-Free Together is about building connections, celebrating our diversity and strengthening our community bonds.”
“Each of us has a role to play in breaking the cycle of hate. The contributions of the creative arts community in Davis have been invaluable,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “UC Davis is proud to support these efforts to build community through education, and we hope they inspire others to do the important work of eradicating hate in their communities.”
“Yolo County values the work of the Hate Free Together Initiative and appreciated the unique approach of using art and creative spaces to engage our community and hear from new voices while educating the participants on the value of knowing each other and decreasing hate,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisor Vice Chair Sheila Allen. “We look forward to continuing the conversation in the next phases of the project as we work toward a county that is welcoming and inclusive of everyone.”
“We are proud to be part of an initiative that not only values arts education, but embraces its power to raise awareness, build empathy and create lasting change,” said Superintendent of Davis Joint Unified School District Matt Best. “These activities highlight how the arts can give individuals a voice, connect communities and shine a light on the issues that matter most. This is the kind of learning that stays with our students and community for life.”
To find the final report, visit: https://hatefreetogether.org/learning-center/. To learn more about Hate-Free Together, visit: www.hatefreetogether.org. To learn more about the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs program, visit: www.cityofdavis.org/arts.
About Hate-Free Together: Hate-Free Together is a joint initiative of the City of Davis, UC Davis, Yolo County Office of Education, Davis Joint Unified School District and Yolo County. Hate-Free Together is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and empowered community where all individuals belong by promoting curiosity, collaboration, education, and mutual understanding. We celebrate diversity and pursue justice and equality. We strive to support and uplift communities, develop and offer resources, and inspire and applaud positive change, so that together, we may foster a space where every voice is valued, and every person is treated with dignity and respect.
About the California Creative Corp Grant: The 2021 State Budget included a $60 million one-time allocation for the California Arts Council to implement a three-year pilot program called the California Creative Corps. The Creative Corps program hopes to demonstrate how artists from varying disciplines can be instrumental in the development and implementation of critical campaigns that help to address pressing issues in the community. Applicants of the grant were evaluated on criteria such as diversity, equity, inclusion and access, program design, community impact and organizational readiness.
The City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs Program supports community-based arts projects, cultural opportunities and education initiatives that foster excellence, diversity and vitality in the arts. The program is the clearinghouse for all creative activity in the City of Davis government, and serves the entire Davis community.
