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An exhibition for everyone.

Explore 10 incredible sculptures by Detroit-based artists that invite you to discover our shared past; understand our shared present; and reimagined how we can make equity and solidarity a reality in our future, together. 

These are the stories of us - our past, present and future.

VALADE PARK, detroit

juL 9 - AUG 15 2024

POLICY LINK REVOLUTION OF THE SOUL SUMMIT

AUGUST 26-28 2024

Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.

Let's make our shared ideals a reality. 
For all.

In 2026, the Declaration of Independence  turns 250 years old. In its simple words "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" we discover the promise of America: the twin ideals of equity and solidarity. Two ideas that shape our very identity as a country - and yet they weren’t a reality then and they aren’t reality now.

 

In the unique storytelling spaces our exhibitions create, The Stories of Us invites everyone to come together to discover more about our shared past and understand our shared present so that we can ask as we look to the future - how can we make the Declaration’s ideals of equity and solidarity a reality, together?

These are the stories of us - our past, present and future.

Inequality and division are not our preordained fate. We can choose a different future. In 2026, we have an opportunity to view our founding documents and the ideals within them as a call to action:

We are all invited to act to make those ideals a reality and join in the effort of perfecting our union - for all. It’s up to us.

Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.

Let's make our shared ideals a reality.
For all.

In 2026, the Declaration of Independence  turns 250 years old. In its simple words "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" we discover the promise of America: the twin ideals of equity and solidarity. Two ideas that shape our very identity as a country - and yet they weren’t a reality then and they aren’t reality now.

 

In the unique storytelling spaces our exhibitions create, The Stories of Us invites everyone to come together to discover more about our shared past and understand our shared present so that we can ask as we look to the future - how can we make the Declaration’s ideals of equity and solidarity a reality, together?

These are the stories of us - our past, present and future.

Inequality and division are not our preordained fate. We can choose a different future. In 2026, we have an opportunity to view our founding documents and the ideals within them as a call to action:

We are all invited to act to make those ideals a reality and join in the effort of perfecting our union - for all. It’s up to us.

For everyone. For you. By all of us. Join us.

THE EXHIBITION

For everyone. For you.
By all of us. Join us.

PURPOSE

in our relationship with ourselves.

WORTHINESS 

I am worthy of love dignity and respect.

AWARENESS

I know how I see the world and where it comes from.

BELIEF 

I believe I have something valuable to offer.


PURPOSE  

I know what inspires me and what I want to do.

ORIGINS

Origins explores the principal peoples and cultures that history brought together in the founding and evolution of what we now know as the United States.

VOL. 1

We Hold These Truths

We Hold These Truths asks us to consider the contrasts between the high ideals and the reality of oppression and enslavement of the founding and early formation of the United States.

VOL. 2

EMANCIPATION

Emancipation examines a key chapter in the story of the United States. It was progress, but it was messy – full of complicated motivations, realities and repercussions.

VOL. 3

RIPPLES ACROSS GENERATIONS

Ripples Across Generations makes clear the direct consequences that enslavement has had on every generation of Americans, including the society we live in today.

VOL. 4

GOOD TROUBLE

Good Trouble charts the long march towards equity since Emancipation, with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States at its heart.

VOL. 5

STILL WE RISE

Still We Rise celebrates and tells the story of Black people who have transformed the universe of the possible through their impact across our society, from the everyday spaces of our lives to the global stage.

VOL. 6

THE CULTURE

The Culture honors the culture of the African-American community and the African diaspora that has transformed our understanding and our experience of life, across the world.

VOL. 7

A MORE PERFECT UNION

A More Perfect Union highlights that the Black experience is deeply intertwined with and stands alongside intersectional pursuits to realize the ideals of America for ALL.

VOL. 8

me reimagined

Change starts with and within each of us. Me Reimagined is an invitation to reimagine who we want to be and the impact we can have. No matter our starting point, what becomes possible if we step into the spirit of transformative solidarity?

VOL. 9

US REIMAGINED

Having taken this path together, Us Reimagined invites us to envision the community, society and world we can create if we embrace transformative solidarity and prioritise full dignity and justice for all.

VOL. 10

THE MISSION //

transformative solidarity

A future of equity created by and for everyone is only possible when we all step into Transformative Solidarity – a solidarity in which we recognise and embrace each other’s realities, potential and humanity as essential to our own.

 

All of our programs invite people to practice the mindsets and skills of Transformative Solidarity:

OUR ARTISTS

Art has the power to engage, challenge, provoke and inspire. It is an invitation to curiosity and conversation that can help us breakthrough to a deeper understanding. Our unique sculpture exhibitions showcase all that power in the original work by these incredible artists and storytellers.

WORTHINESS 

I am worthy of love dignity and respect.

AWARENESS

I know how I see the world and where it comes from.

BELIEF 

I believe I have something valuable to offer.
PURPOSE  

I know what inspires me and what I want to do.

PURPOSE

in our relationship with ourselves.

THEMES //

THE STORIES OF US

A simple truth - We are our stories. The stories we are told. The stories we tell. They shape who we are and what we do individually and together. Stories define the reality we create for ourselves and each other.

 

The 10 themes of The Stories of Us center the Black experience to help all of us to deepen our understanding of our shared past and present, so that we can create a future of equity for all, together.

Our Vision & Plans

The Stories of Us creates unique storytelling spaces to bring people together in curiosity, connection and joy so that we can take action to make those ideals of equity and solidarity at the core of the Declaration of Independence a reality.

 

We are building towards our full-scale program for the Fourth of July 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The 2024 exhibitions are the first step in the journey to our full vision, inviting everyone to join us to make it richer and more meaningful than we can even imagine.

 

The Stories of Us is working to support and grow the community doing the work of making equity for all a reality, as we invite people to take their next step - whether it’s their first learning or the next action in a lifetime commitment.

Exhibitions as catalysts

The core of our program will be the exhibitions of large-scale sculptures that invite people to travel through all 10 themes of The Stories of us. Hosting activities and events, the exhibitions are catalyst for visitors to discover and to take action.

Festivals for Equity

From 2026, Festivals for Equity will run alongside each exhibition to honor, celebrate and showcase the incredible work already underway in each host city for our shared mission of equity.  

Learning for our Future

Young people are the founders of the future. Launching in 2025, The Stories of Us learning program use creativity to foster understanding, dialogue, agency and creative expression.

Storytelling for Equity

The exhibitions are a gateway to discovery. From 2025, The Stories of Us digital ecosystem will invite visitors to discover curated stories of our shared, past and future.

// VOL. 1

ORIGINS

Origins explores the principal peoples and cultures that history brought together in the founding and evolution of what we now know as the United States.

// VOL. 2

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS

We Hold These Truths asks us to consider the conflicts between the high ideals and the reality of oppression and enslavement of the founding and early formation of the United States.

// VOL. 3

emancipation

Emancipation examines a key chapter in the story of the United States. It was progress, but it was messy – full of complicated motivations, realities and repercussions.

// VOL. 4

ripples across generations

Ripples Across Generations makes clear the direct consequences that enslavement has had on every generation of Americans, including the society we live in today.

// VOL. 5

good trouble

Good Trouble charts the long march towards equity since Emancipation, with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States at its heart..

// VOL. 6

still we rise

Still We Rise celebrates and tells the story of Black people who have transformed the universe of the possible through their impact across our society, from the everyday spaces of our lives to the global stage.

// VOL. 7

the culture

The Culture honors the culture of the African-American community and the African diaspora that has transformed our understanding and our experience of life, across the world.

// VOL. 8

a more perfect union

A More Perfect Union highlights that the Black experience is deeply intertwined with and stands alongside intersectional pursuits to realize the ideals of America for ALL.

// VOL. 9

me reimagined

Change starts with and within each of us. Me Reimagined is an invitation to reimagine who we want to be and the impact we can have. No matter our starting point, what becomes possible if we step into the spirit of transformative solidarity?

// VOL. 10

US reimagined

Having taken this path together, Us Reimagined invites us to envision the community, society and world we can create if we embrace transformative solidarity and prioritise full dignity and justice for all.

For everyone. For you.
By all of us.  Join us.

A future of equity created by and for everyone is only possible we all step into Transformative Solidarity – a solidarity in which we recognise and embrace each other’s realities, potential and humanity as essential to our own.

 

All of our programs invite people to practice the mindsets and skills of Transformative Solidarity:

THE MISSION //

transformative solidarity

Purpose

for ourselves

Grace

for one another

Courage

for the world around us

Hope

for the future

A simple truth - We are our stories. The stories we are told. The stories we tell. They shape who we are and what we do individually and together. Stories define the reality we create for ourselves and each other.

 

The 10 themes of The Stories of Us center the Black experience to help all of us to deepen our understanding of our shared past and present, so that we can create a future of equity for all, together.

THEMES //

the stories
of us

Art has the power to engage, challenge, provoke and inspire. It is an invitation to curiosity and conversation that can help us breakthrough to a deeper understanding. Our unique sculpture exhibitions showcase all that power in the original work by these incredible artists and storytellers.

OUR ARTISTS

OUR VISION
& PLANS

The Stories of Us creates unique storytelling spaces to bring people together in curiosity, connection and joy so that we can take action to make those ideals of equity and solidarity at the core of the Declaration of Independence a reality.

 

We are building towards our full-scale program for the Fourth of July 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The 2024 exhibitions are the first step in the journey to our full vision, inviting everyone to join us to make it richer and more meaningful than we can even imagine.

 

The Stories of Us is working to support and grow the community doing the work of making equity for all a reality, as we invite people to take their next step - whether it’s their first learning or the next action in a lifetime commitment.

Exhibitions as catalysts

The core of our program will be the exhibitions of large-scale sculptures that invite people to travel through all 10 themes of The Stories of us. Hosting activities and events, the exhibitions are catalyst for visitors to discover and to take action.

Festivals for Equity

From 2026, Festivals for Equity will run alongside each exhibition to honor, celebrate and showcase the incredible work already underway in each host city for our shared mission of equity.  

Learning for our Future

Young people are the founders of the future. Launching in 2025, The Stories of Us learning program use creativity to foster understanding, dialogue, agency and creative expression.

Storytelling for Equity

The exhibitions are a gateway to discovery. From 2025, The Stories of Us digital ecosystem will invite visitors to discover curated stories of our shared, past and future.

For everyone. For you. By all of us. Join us.

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THE EXHIBITION

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