For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.
A shared experience can be a powerful point of connection when we are fundraising. In our “Making the Call” document under Resources on our solicitor site, there are prompts to share a personal story or talk about a shared experience to break the ice before your ask. Tens of millions of people heard Amanda Gorman recite her poem at the inauguration last week, and experienced first-hand the power of the arts.
Many speakers talked of unity and healing in speeches throughout Inauguration day, but what do so many people remember and still talk about? Poetry. Amanda Gorman’s performance expressed the despair and yearning for hope we are feeling that no other speech could. Her words scratched beneath the surface, reminding us of the power that art has to touch our souls, comfort our unease, process our trauma, and heal. If you dig into her back-story, you will learn about her experiences in the arts that led her to overcome a speech impediment and made it possible for her to give that speech at all.
This story is an easy to point to, public example of the importance of funding the arts, that you can use in your calls to potential donors this week.
Here is a link to an article that talks more about Amanda Gormans presentation and the potential impact of art in civic spaces.
