Sol Collective, based in Sacramento, is a community-based 501(c)(3) partnership whose mission is to provide artistic, cultural, and educational programming, promote social justice, and empower youth through art, activism, music, and media experience. Sol Collective’s youth-curated digital zine, “Nature, Vol. 2,” honors connects the region’s rich Indigenous history to the present through artwork and storytelling, highlighting California’s Indigenous heritage and contemporary social justice movements and offering a nuanced exploration of identity, history, and belonging. This is especially meaningful during Hispanic Heritage Month, where the intertwining histories of indigenous and Hispanic peoples are brought to the forefront.
A key figure in Sol Collective’s work is Youth Program Director and Community Engagement Coordinator, Can Foster. With a passion for cultivating creativity and youth empowerment, Can plays a vital role in fostering community-led arts initiatives. As an Arts Now Leader with Create CA, Can advocates for arts education that meets the unique needs of their community. The Arts Now campaign aims to empower communities across California to take charge of their arts education, ensuring that schools and organizations address local needs while emphasizing the importance of creativity in youth development. Under Can’s leadership, Sol Collective’s youth programs serve as a model for how arts education can uplift youth voices, address topical youth concerns, and promote meaningful engagement with cultural heritage.
Check out their digital zine, Nature Vol. 2 here!
Learn more about Create CA’s Arts Now Program here.
Create CA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.