Equitable Civic Engagement Fund Grantee through the support of:

🗳️ Vote for Your Favorite Design!

It’s time to choose the winner of the Design the Vote Art Contest!

✅ Review the submissions in our gallery
✅ Pick the design that inspires you most
✅ Cast your vote — only one vote per person

✨ Winners will receive cash prizes, and the top design will be printed on tote bags distributed across Cleveland this voting season!

👉 Voting closes October 29th at 11:59pm.***
Cast your vote now and help us stitch democracy together!

Design the Vote – Inside Voices

In the spirit of Equitable Civic Engagement, it’s essential that democracy includes the perspectives of those most often left out of the process. That’s why this year, Cleveland Sews and Cleveland VOTES have launched Design the Vote – Inside Voices.

Through this initiative, we are partnering with the Cuyahoga County Jail to bring creative, civic expression behind the walls. Incarcerated individuals, who are typically excluded from democratic participation, are being given the opportunity to share their voices through art. Their designs reflect resilience, imagination, and the deep human desire to be heard—reminding us that democracy is stronger when it is more inclusive.

By incorporating the artwork of justice-impacted individuals into the Design the Vote Art Contest, we are stitching together a fuller picture of civic life in Cleveland. This collaboration underscores our commitment to equity, mutual respect, and the belief that everyone deserves a place in shaping our shared civic culture.

*** We noticed that some artists may have submitted more than one piece of art. In keeping with the idea of Equitable Civic Engagement and allowing all voices to be heard, we want to showcase all of the art submissions. To be equitable, each artist is being given the same amount of visual real estate, (1/2 page width with accommodations to Inside Voices) regardless of number of designs. The art’s layout may impact the visual size within those parameters. Artist’s names are a clickable link to the social media accounts they submitted with their design, when applicable.

ONLY ONE VOTE (per person) may be cast for ONE ARTIST’S WORK. Please be sure to include why you think this artist’s submission best represents civic engagement in Cleveland. In the case that there might be a winner that had included more than one piece of art, the printed item will be at the discretion of Cleveland Sews. Any art that did not follow our design submission guidelines of up to 4-colors and/or a 1-color version, will be ineligible to be printed on bags if it cannot be modified. Any drawings that may be have a copyright will not be reproduced for bag printing. All submitting artists are eligible to win the cash prize.

All images are posted in timeline of receipt, unless formatting designs on the website posed a visual challenge in which they may have shifted a slight position to benefit the integrity of each artist’s work. We thank all of the submitting artists for their tremendous contribution to our Design the Vote contest and helping to increase civic engagement in our communities.

Now, let’s get the vote out— here and in our general election in Cleveland on Tuesday, November 4th!

Maya Shaw

https://msha.ke/mayaesthetic

Much like the ecosystem, the world is most harmonious when each person is able to successfully contribute, so if I want to live in a better world, the work starts with me.

Once upon a time people believed the cuyahoga river was too far gone. Destroyed by corporations illegally dumping into it. But with the love, care & unity of many, the river has now thrived. Just like the river, with unity, love & care, I believe society too can thrive with each persons contributions. Because people cared enough to save the river in 1972, decades later I was able to grow up alongside it & develop as a person & artist, eventually finding inspiration for this very piece while walking by it. I’m grateful to them. Love is never wasted, and neither was a single one of those votes.

Shawn Howard

I moved to Cleveland as a kid and fell in love with its mixing pot cultures and endless possibilities. However, as time passed, it’s become harder and harder for people in all generations to live up to the potential that this city can promise. Being civically engaged doesn’t have an age, it doesn’t have a color; it’s a responsibility for us all that ensures a beautiful future for ourselves and those to come.

As a trans person in a very tumultuous and often violent moment in our society, it can be very, very difficult to hear the voices of people like me and to get our issues addressed. It’s scary to live in a world where simply being my most genuine self puts a massive target on my back. But I will not let the ignorance and fear of things others do not understand stop me from finding safety and solace in my community. Like weeds through the cement, we will persist. We will survive. We will love.

Gwendolyn Garth

Like Muhammad Ali I believe that "Participating in life is the rent you pay for breathing." I also believe that “Life is for participating, not for spectating.”

I see myself as a Multimedia Social practice artist and my work explores a form of artistic expression, that questions the canon of art history’s conventional attitudes towards art making. My work begins with creative journaling: recording my thoughts through art and writing and later bringing my work “Off The Pages”. My Art investigates the unlimited possibilities of art making by combining multiple mediums. I specialize in the integration of fine art with computer graphics. I frequently combine techniques and mediums such as paints, pencil sketching mixed with marker, graphite, fabric, computer graphics, woodworking and creative journaling. My personal mission is to encourage others towards “Overcoming Darkness and Defying Stereotypes”. I use the arts and creative placemaking as vehicles of healing, particularly for those who are healing from the traumas of incarceration, substance abuse and racism. My personal transformation from incarceration and substance abuse is my message! Throughout my career, I have honed my artistic abilities through hands-on experience and some formal education! In the last 27 years my community activism is what has really brought my artistic capabilities to the forefront and has brought me to the level of the Social Practice Artist. Creating art focused on community engagement utilizing a range of art media coupled with human interaction is continuously allowing me to develop a unique artistic style that combines traditional techniques with contemporary concepts.

Jo Byrne

Civic engagement in Cleveland matters because all of us should have our basic needs met and our elected representatives should be working to make that happen.

Visual notes are a great way to educate people, so what better way to engage people about the importance of participating in politics.

Thao Nguyen

Being civically engaged in Cleveland matters to me because it allows me to make an impact creatively and serve the community. I’ve always loved art and using it as a way to help, educate, and bring people’s visions to life. I believe we all have the power to create change. Whether it’s showing up to an event, making a vote, or contributing in small ways. What you do is who you are and I do my best to live by that here in Cleveland.

Thao Nguyen is an illustrator, designer, and visual artist. She has a range of creative pursuits such as illustrating and designing logos, magazine covers, greeting cards, and packaging. She combines her passion for hand-drawn art and design forward thinking through digital techniques. Her work consists of vibrant colors and incorporates wildlife inspired by her love of the outdoors. In this last year, she recently completed a year-long printmaking residency and group exhibition through Zygote Press. Thao is working on a series of public art installations throughout the city of Cleveland.

Patricia Esmeralda Pimentel Hernandez

To me, being civically engaged in Cleveland means showing up for my community in every way I can. Even if I’m not eligible to vote, I believe in the power of raising awareness, inspiring others to take action, and using art to express the importance of participation, justice, and representation. Civic engagement is about more than voting, it’s about using your voice, your talents, and your values to build a better future for everyone

Andre William Robert Dailey

Why civic engagement in Cleveland matters is like asking why is water quality important to a fish. To put it simply I’m alive here and now and everything matters.

I’m a minimalist artist who is both civically engaged and actively producing new work. I’d love the opportunity to work with you all for this very special project. GOTV is so very important.

Sally Francis

Civic engagement is the most direct way I will be able to impact and witness people's quality of life improving.

I am an Emmy Award-winning Animator who runs Garbage Island Studios.

Madison Cozzens

Civic engagement means participating in your community and being a part of something larger than yourself. It means being educated and updated on the political actions happening locally and nationally that will affect your community and using your voice to accept or deny those actions. The power of the people is greater than the people in power.

Civic engagement is so so important. If we want positive change to happen in our communities. It starts from the ground up, join your grassroots organizations, go to protests, make your voice heard.

Jamariona Mikels

I love getting to know my community!

These are not regular portrait drawings they are specifically for tattoos.

Lilah Baird

Being civically engaged with your community is so important not only to connect yourself with others but its also a powerful tool to raise and support the voices and opinions of yourself and others.

Delshaun Askew

Civic engagement is great opportunities, a good place and good neighbors!

Amelia Casiano

Civic engagement in Cleveland is important to me to be civically engaged in Cleveland because it provides a sense of purpose and helping the community.

I am a BIPOC artist in the Cleveland area, that is always open to learning, engaging with people and creating my art. My sense of story telling is always reworking and connecting with others. My voice in my artwork plays a more important role in how I display myself, my thoughts, journey and overall personality. My art is intuitive and is considered mixed media. It’s always a framework of interaction and community. That is why with my paintings I try to include people and places.

Joyce Morrow Jones

The act of voting is personally engaging and while a privilege, it speaks largely of each person’s advocacy for the potential of change to manifest. I chose the word “signify” which best emphasizes the right to vote. Signify means to “represent” oneself, to speak up or to stand for something important. My other design “Your Vote – Uniquely Yours” affirms this as well.

In times where there is doubt, uncertainty or fear - each person must make a choice to advocate - let your vote speak for you.

Jasmine Brown

I have always enjoyed volunteering, and every student should have the chance to try it.

Sydney N. Kay

Civic engagement in Cleveland means giving everyone no matter the race or class the tools to allow them to both believe and choose to be civically be engaged.

小陸 LOH

[Ohio / Ohioans,] The Heart of It All‼️It is A better way to raise individual / shy voices of all ordinary people, ie the Actual majority, into A collective voice for the Real people power, in my opinion‼️