Middle school youth work on a collective banner making project. Joshua Slack
March 2026 proved to be a busy time for the work of Pan Valley Institute and it’s ArteVism Fellowship as we continue the work in our communities. Just days before our residential gathering, we had an opportunity of having students from Fort Miller Middle School to come visit the Pan Valley Institute office as part of a day exploring organizations across Fresno.
During their time with us, we introduced them to the framework of ArteVism, which is the intersection of art and activism, and invited into a collective banner-making project. A good amount of the students came in as artists, ready to create, and what emerged was a vibrant expression of their ideas, identities, and visions for their communities.
Their energy filled the space, and by the end of their visit, we were told that PVI was their favorite stop of the day. We took that as an affirmation of the importance of creating spaces where young people feel seen, inspired, and empowered through art, especially in the midst of this current political reality.
Joshua Slack
We carried that same spirit into Reviving Hope: How to Thrive in the Midst of the Political Climate, which was a three-day residential gathering at Wonder Valley Ranch that brought together community members, artists, and organizers from across the Central Valley.
Participants arrived holding the weight of the current moment, navigating uncertainty, fatigue, and urgency, and yet were met with space to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine what is possible when we move together.
Throughout the weekend, culture and storytelling grounded the experience. Through Cultural Kitchen, story circles, and sessions like Who Is Who in the Room?, participants shared food, traditions, and personal histories that mapped a deeper understanding of the Central Valley and the communities within it.
In Narrative Power: How the Arts Shape Movements, participants explored how creative expression can challenge dominant narratives and build new ones, engaging in collaborative work rooted in identity, resilience, and belonging.
PVI three-day residential gathering at Wonder Valley Ranch
Together, we had these two moments, where we had one with young people stepping into their creative voices, and the other with organizers reflecting on their work. These moments highlight the continuum of this movement.
They remind us that hope is tangible, and it is something we actively create and sustain through art, storytelling, and community. Cross culturally, and cross generationally, our work continues. Our work rooted in culture, carried by people, and driven by the belief that another future is possible.