71,253 visitors experienced the exhibition
Many described the exhibition as “moving” and “life-changing.”
Creative Community Committee
Jump to
The Creative Community Committee (aka C3) is a group of diverse representatives from Santa Cruz County who work together to tackle issues in our community. It’s a leadership network for creative, action-oriented people who want to build a stronger, more connected Santa Cruz.
A project of the MAH, C3 is a way to infuse our exhibitions and programs with varied perspectives, creative ideas, and relevant partnerships. Our community drives all of our work at the MAH. C3 is like jet fuel for us.
The Cohorts
2018-19
We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
In Santa Cruz County, 1 in 3 seniors report struggling with feelings of isolation and depression. These seniors feel alone, detached from family, friends, and the community.
Opening soon, the exhibition We're Still Here shares these stories and was entirely created by 100 local seniors, organizations, and advocates. Everything from the art to the events to the layout was designed by them.
Go Behind the Scenes
Read up on the process that made We're Still Here in a series of blog posts.
See the Exhibition
Members
Advocacy Inc.
Calworks Emergency Payment Program
Care From the Heart In Home Service Inc
CASA
Child and Family Rights Advocates of Santa Cruz County
Cid Pearlman
City of Santa Cruz
ComForCare
Community Action Board
Community Bridges Lift Line
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
County of Santa Cruz
CSUMB student
Davenport Resource Service Center
Dientes Community Dental Care
Downtown Senior Center, Louden Nelson Community Center
Elder Errands
Elderday Adult Day Health Care & Seniors Commission member
Famility Service Agency of the Central Coast
Food Not Bombs
Grey Bears
Health Projects Center
Health Services Agency
Hospice Santa Cruz County
In Home Supportive Services
Insight Santa Cruz
Lifespan Care
LiftLine
Meals on Wheels, Community Bridges
Media Watch
Mount Madonna Center
Osher Lifelong Learners
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue
Raging Granny Singing Group
Rock Steady Boxing
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
Santa Cruz County Human Services Department
Santa Cruz Parkinson's Group, EASEPD Inc.
Santuario Santa Cruz
Senior Network Services
Seniors Council of Santa Cruz & San Benito Counties
Stanford University
Sunshine Villa Assisted Living
The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County
Veterans Services
Village Santa Cruz Founder
Vista Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County
Yoga For All Movement
2016-17
Lost Childhoods: Voices of Santa Cruz County Foster Youth and the Foster Youth Museum
In 2017, C3 members worked together to create Lost Childhoods, an art exhibition about foster youth, made with foster youth. The exhibition ran from July 7 – December 31, 2017, highlighted stories from local foster youth, and invited our community to get involved.
Over 4,500 community members visited the Lost Childhoods exhibit on opening night, and over 6,000 more people visited the nation’s largest collection of art, artifacts, and video portraits about youth experiences in foster care.
The Impact
Lost Childhoods had a significant impact on transition age foster youth and our community.
Members
Americans Listen to Each Other
Artists on Art
Bridget Mary Henry
CA Assembly
Cabrillo College/ Program Coordinator
California Youth Connection
CalWORKS, Foster Youth Cabrillo College
Camp Opportunity
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Santa Cruz County
Claraty Arts
County of Santa Cruz Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
County of Santa Cruz Family and Children Services
County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
Danielle Peters
District Director for Assemblymember Mark Stone
Embroideries by Stef
Encompass Transition Age Youth Services
Family & Childrens Services of Santa Cruz County
Food, What?!
Foster Youth Museum/California Youth Connection
Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission
Mariposas Art
Melody Overstreet
New Families, Inc.
Radical Play
Raphael Arar
Resource Center for NonviolenceRose Sellery
Salud y Cariño
Santa Cruz COE/CASA
Santa Cruz County HSD, Family and Children’s Services Division
Santa Cruz County Office of Education Foster Ed Program
Senti-Pensante Connections
The Smith Renaissance Society
United Way of Santa Cruz County
University of San Francisco Museum Studies Graduate Program
Walnut Avenue Womens Center
YOUR FUTURE IS OUR BUSINESS
Youth Violence Prevention Task Force
Create Your Own
Issue-driven Exhibition
If you’re an organization—museum, library, or cultural center—that wants to host and develop these kinds of projects, our toolkit is for you.
Inside the 50-page ebook, you’ll find templates, checklists, and helpful tips to build a high-impact exhibition on an issue that matters in your community. We give you advice on how to scale the exhibition to fit your organization’s size, scope, and mission.
In the Press
Featured press about the Lost Childhoods exhibition
C3 Needs You
We’re always on the lookout for people who want to get things done—people who care deeply about creating a stronger and more connected Santa Cruz County.