FAQs

The 2026 Cultural Week of Action will take place October 27-November 3. However, in the spirit of promoting a culture of everyday democracy and civic action, you are invited to host an event anytime between August and November 3 and it will be featured on our map!

DemocracyIs: is a national campaign from Race Forward that deepens our understanding of democracy as a practice of belonging, participation, and shared governance. This calls for us to tell the truth about our history, collectively define what a racially just democracy must look like, and organize to make it real.

The Cultural Week of Action is one way communities can bring that vision to life. Through cultural events, storytelling, public gatherings, art, collective learning, and community activations, CWA invites communities to show what participatory democracy looks like in everyday life.

You can participate by signing up to be a Community Partner and hosting an event or activation in your community to be featured on our national map. You can submit your project here.

Below are a few examples of events and activities you can pursue to engage your community, but we encourage you to get creative! For support with planning, check out our CWA toolkit.

• Public installations or murals that celebrate racial justice and democratic movements.
• Teach-ins and storytelling events that reclaim banned histories and elevate lived experience.
• Pop-up exhibits or art shows on themes like freedom, community, and resistance.
• Community assemblies or forums on local democratic participation and racial equity.
• Faith gatherings focused on healing and spiritual grounding.
• Youth-led actions or performances highlighting their vision of the future.

We know that our partners, collaborators, and networks are already leading important cultural activations and events. If you’re already hosting a cultural event or activation between August and November 3 that channels joy, connection, and solidarity in service of everyday democracy–we would love to help you spread the word by adding it to our map!

As an Organizing Partner, you will receive:

1. Promotion of your work via the CWA map and Race Forward social media channels
2. Access to dedicated Office Hours with Race Forward’s CWA lead to discuss your CWA plans and any available resources or network connections 
3. Discounts to training and convenings, including our 2026 Facing Race conference in Raleigh, NC

To participate as an “Organizing Partner” for The Cultural Week of Action campaign, an organization or group must pledge to:

1. Sign up for our map to host a CWA activation between August and November 3
2. Pursue one of the following:
   1. Produce or collaborate on at least (1) original election-specific or democracy-forward resource to be shared with Race Forward audiences between August and October;
   2. Recruit at least (2) partners to sign up for the map and host their own Cultural Week of Action activation between August and November; 3) Support the campaign’s mobilizing efforts with a financial contribution
3. Complete a post-event or post-campaign evaluation to inform our Cultural Week of Action Report 

4. Include their name and logo in promotional materials

   Examples of election specific or democracy forward resources include but are not limited to: toolkits for support with connecting with audiences, case studies on examples of representation, civic participation, or shared decision-making in communities, voter guides, research reports, message testing findings, and resources to assist with network, cultural, or communications strategy.

   To sign up to be an Organizing Partner, fill out our intake form.
    

Yes, but you must submit each event separately.

Currently, there are no funds available, but we will notify participants if this changes.

Yes, you can host a Cultural Week of Action event online or in-person and be featured on our map. If you’re hosting a public event, we can even share links!