This month our chapter is providing funding for a portion of the Ripple Effect Arts Festival, a Santa Cruz County-wide program that brings people together through shared creative experiences that bridge geographic, cultural, and generational divides. Ripple events will take place over 11 days and will include powerful performances, art, theater, poetry, fashion, dance, music, and cultural celebrations in various venues throughout Santa Cruz County.

By presenting a wide range of artistic events throughout the region and partnering with organizations that reflect the full spectrum of our community, the festival fosters connection, celebration, and mutual appreciation through the arts. The festival emphasizes inclusion, kindness, and compassion by uplifting both emerging and established creative voices and by designing events that encourage dialogue, curiosity, and understanding. Participants are invited to encounter new perspectives, connect with neighbors, and experience the arts as a unifying force.

The Watsonville Film Festival will be one portion of the Ripple Effect Arts Festival, and our grant will sponsor a free and open-to-the-public dance party with a local DJ after the film festival concludes.