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Posted: October 17th, 2008 Tracy Russ

Crossroads Charlotte incorporates the arts into its civic engagement process. Through storytelling, spoken-word poetry, music, visual art and theatrical performances, Crossroads Charlotte aims to improve access, equity and inclusion among Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents. The large-scale initiative encourages participants to examine four plausible scenarios for Charlotte's future and craft steps that steer the community toward positive outcomes.
A nine-member Crossroads Charlotte team traveled to Sundance to tell the Crossroads story in film, poetry, music and images.

The group participated in discussions with roundtable participants around the use of arts in efforts to engage citizens in political, social and cultural decision making. Redford participated by reading aloud a Crossroads Charlotte scenario. The presentation included performances by two Crossroads Charlotte poets and the premiere of one of four films adapted from the Crossroads scenarios. All four films will be premiere November 2008.

Crossroads Charlotte Co-Chairs Mike Rizer and Darrel Williams with Robert Redford at the Americans for the Arts annual National Arts Policy Roundtable in Sundance, Utah.

Americans For The Arts, a national arts advocacy organization, featured Crossroads Charlotte during its annual National Arts Policy Roundtable gathering last month.

Leaders from across the nation in business, government, philanthropy, education, and the arts convened at Robert Redford’s Sundance Preserve in Utah September 25-27, 2008 to address the arts and civic engagement at the third annual Americans for the Arts National Arts Policy Roundtable.

Representing Crossroads Charlotte at Sundance were: Michael Marsicano, President and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas; Susan Patterson, Charlotte Program Director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Mike Rizer, President of the Wachovia Foundation; Darrel Williams, President of Neighboring Concepts; Dianne English, Executive Director of Community Building Initiative; Joan Lorden, UNC Charlotte Provost; Laurence Maher, poet and performance artist; Quentin Talley, poet and performance artist and Tracy Russ, President of Russ Communications.

"We were honored that Crossroads Charlotte was chosen to represent what can happen when the arts catalyze civic engagement efforts," said Crossroads Charlotte Executive Director Patricia Zoder. "The best in the field saw how we are looking at our future through a variety of creative techniques."

About Crossroads Charlotte
Crossroads Charlotte was created in response to a 2001 Social Capital Benchmark Survey that revealed Charlotte ranked 39th out of 40 communities on interracial trust. The initiative is managed by Foundation For The Carolinas and provides tools and paths for citizens to connect with each other as they respond to four plausible stories about the community's future. Visit www.crossroadscharlotte.org.
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About Foundation For The Carolinas
Foundation For The Carolinas is a nonprofit community foundation serving donors and a broad range of charitable purposes in North and South Carolina. In its role as a civic leader, the Foundation addresses community challenges and designs initiatives that bring together diverse groups around critical problems and issues. Visit www.fftc.org.

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Media Contact: Patricia Zoder, Executive Director of Crossroads Charlotte, 704.973.4567 or pzoder@fftc.org.

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