There is power in our stories

About

Community Art Collaborative (CAC) was established in March of 2021 as a non-profit focused on facilitating public art programs to help communities across the United States use art as a healing modality.

In May 2020, co-founders Meclina Gomes and Jennifer MacIver Edwards found themselves — like many Americans — profoundly concerned about the emotional state of communities facing the COVID pandemic, economic strife, and social injustice. Building upon the public art movement that aims for art to be a more consistent occurrence in our communities and daily lives, they created the CAC to support the creation of art installations as a way to help communities converse, process, and heal together. 

We advance health equity by integrating community-based art into healthcare and public spaces, addressing the social determinants of health through creative engagement. Our work strengthens social connection, supports mental and emotional well-being, and builds community capacity through inclusive, collaborative art practices.

The CAC collaborated with organizations throughout Plymouth, Massachusetts: “America’s Hometown” and beyond to deliver many of its inaugural art installations. You can learn more about those installations here.

ENGAGE

Partner, participate, or collaborate. We work with artists, healthcare providers, and communities to co-create art experiences that strengthen connection and address the social determinants of health. There are many ways to get involved; find yours here.

SUPPORT

Healing doesn’t only happen in clinical spaces, it happens in moments of connection, expression, and care. Your support makes it possible to bring community-based art into spaces where it can uplift, restore, and connect.
Join us in creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and well.

CREATE

Our work is built in relationship. From hospital corridors to community spaces, we bring together artists, fabricators, healthcare providers, patients, and neighbors to co-create work that holds lived experience, sparks connection, and supports healing environments.

PROVIDE

Stronger connections. Healthier environments. More human-centered care. Through community-based art in healthcare and public spaces, we reduce isolation, foster belonging, and support emotional well-being—building more connected and resilient communities.

The Founders

Meclina and Jennifer are childhood friends who grew up in Carver, MA.  They left the area and pursued their respective professions and reconnected with a mission to help communities throughout the country use art as a healing modality for the COVID pandemic, economic strife, and social justice movements taking place.  Profoundly touched by the lack of acknowledgment of the “loss” communities have felt during this difficult chapter in our country’s history.  They have set out to help build upon the public art movement and endeavor to create an inclusive and engaging plan to support communities in helping this become a more consistent occurrence in our daily lives.

  • Co-Founder

    Meclina Gomes is a respected contemporary artist who uses microcalligraphy as the focal point in her work. Her paintings are woven with words for social empowerment and self-acceptance. When you engage with her art the imagery pulls you in the words jump off the canvas as a reminder of your own inner reflection and self-love. Her background is in Arts education, community programming and working in the Design community. She has led several community-based art projects. As the Resident artist for Marriott, Meclina brings together businesses, local communities and guests to engage in art talks and live painting events. While working with Interior Designers and Set Designers she creates oversized original works of art to drive interactive experiences . Meclina’s work is in private collections, celebrity homes, hotels like the Mayflower Hotel, Epicurean Hotel and on Production locations. Meclina resides in Wareham, MA with her family.

  • Co-Founder

    Jennifer MacIver Edwards is an Executive Advisor and Consultant focused on Marketing and Customer Experience. She Provides clients with strategy and execution guidance around brand awareness, revenue growth, and customer engagement. She leads WW Customer Experience Operations and Programs for Contentsquare and has held senior roles at Dell EMC, Commvault, and British Telecommunications. She is an advisor to Wehealth.org (www.wehealth.org), an exposure notification application used by the state of Arizona and Bermuda. She’s also served on the non-profit boards of Let’s Get Ready, a college readiness organization for underserved students, and To the Moon and Back, supporting the needs of children born exposed to opioids and their families. Jennifer resides in Plymouth, MA, with her family.