Gucci marks a new milestone in its commitment to social equity with the launch of the sixth chapter of its Changemakers North America initiative, titled "Manifesting Visions of Tomorrow." The program, which has channeled over $7M in funding since its 2019 inception, continues to amplify diverse voices across the creative landscape through its three-pronged approach: the Impact Fund, Scholarship Program, and Creative Fellowship.
The latest iteration crystallizes the luxury house's dedication to fostering change through arts and culture, with twelve organizations selected as 2024 Impact Fund recipients. These range from STEM From Dance in New York, which harnesses dance to empower girls of color through technology, to the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, providing art therapy services to LGBTQ+ youth.
A short film directed by Anthony Prince Leslie captures the initiative's transformative spirit, featuring Changemakers Scholars Miles Richards and D'on Lauren Edwards alongside Custom Collaborative's Executive Director, Ngozi Okaro. The narrative weaves together themes of community interconnectedness and creative empowerment, hallmarks of the program's ethos.
The 2024 cohort spans the cultural spectrum, with recipients including the Black Design Collective in Los Angeles and the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta. Since its launch, the Impact Fund has touched the lives of over 880,000 community members through partnerships with 67 non-profit organizations across North America.
In a notable expansion, the program introduces its inaugural class of Creative Fellows, announced during New York's CultureCon. Four alumni of the Scholarship program – Celeste Nicole, Keith Herron, Yetunde Sapp, and Zahri Josita Jackson – will receive grants and mentorship to pursue independent creative ventures.
Applications for the sixth round opened January 13, with the Impact Fund targeting six key metropolitan areas: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Atlanta, and Dallas/Houston. The Impact Fund will provide one-year grants to grassroots organizations, while the Scholarship Program continues its mission of supporting diverse undergraduate talent in creative arts and business.
Through this latest chapter, Gucci reaffirms its position at the intersection of luxury and social responsibility, creating pathways for emerging talent while fostering community-driven change. Applications close February 21, 2025, marking another step forward in the house's ongoing commitment to creative equity and cultural innovation.
Additional information and application information is available at www.equilibrium.gucci.com/changemakers-us.
