This document discusses three examples of using art to inspire community advocacy and change: the South Baltimore Peninsula partnership between community organizations and Art on Purpose, the Hamilton Hills/Lauraville project, and the Save Middle East Action Committee (SMEAC). The South Baltimore Peninsula partnership was successful due to acknowledging histories, clearly defining project scope, and having leadership understand each other. The Hamilton Hills/Lauraville project provides lessons about better defining project scope, communicating with all stakeholders, allowing for choices, and closely monitoring partner leadership. SMEAC faced difficult challenges but overcame them by being prepared to put in work and address issues directly.

1. Maps on Purpose
Using museum-quality art to
inspire community advocacy,
networking, and change.

4. Three examples:
South Baltimore Peninsula
Hamilton Hills/Lauraville
Save Middle East Action Committee (SMEAC)

5. South Baltimore Peninsula
A model partnership between three community
organizations (Federal Hill, South Federal Hill, and
Sharp-Leadenhall) and Art on Purpose: the
importance of mutual respect, communications, and
managing expectations.

6. South Baltimore Peninsula
Keys to success:
•Acknowledge & discussed history of oppression vs.
privilege, black vs. white.
•Clearly identified scope of activities: what we would
do, what to expect, and what we expected.
•Strong desire among leadership to understand one
another, and address issues as they arose.
•Staff to implement expectations.

7. Hamilton Hills/Lauraville
What to do when it goes wrong.

8. Hamilton Hills/Lauraville
Lessons learned:
•Try harder to identify scope of activities: what to expect, and
what we expected.
•Remember that every participant is a stakeholder, whether or
not they’re in the room at the time.
•Communicate choices, and make sure there are choices.
•Remember: as much as you might care about art, somebody
else could care less.
•Keep your eye on what is happening; keep your radar sharp –
especially when partner and/or staff leadership is questionable.
•Be sensitive to the difference between difference and
competence: always exam your own actions again & again.

9. SMEAC
Don’t be shy about difficult challenges, but be
prepared to put in the time and put out the fires.

10. SMEAC

12. SMEAC
Middle East Baltimore Stories

13. Things to Live By:
“Give credit, whether or not it’s due.”
“Mission-driven organizations do mission-driven projects –
their mission, not yours.”
“If you’re not sure what’s in it for them, then watch out for the
hidden agenda. (And don’t hide yours.)”
“Good ideas and doing good is never enough.”
“Listen first. Talk second. Agree third. Then pay attention.”
“Look for the thorny personalities, and deal head-on.”
Choose your battles. It’s a small town.”
“Don’t confuse being a contractor with being a partner:
they who pay call the shots.”