JEFFERSON SCHOOL AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES
bridging the gap between data, storytelling, and action
StickyNote Creative was tasked with bridging the gap between data, storytelling, and action—translating a dense, text-heavy report into an accessible, visually compelling report that inspires engagement and mobilization.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
Brand Identity
Community Engagement Report
background
Swords Into Plowshares is a bold, community-driven initiative that harnesses art to confront and transform a century of racial injustice in Charlottesville, VA. Since its inception, the project has shaped national conversations around toppled Confederate statues by modeling a community-engaged democratic process of creative transformation. The goal is to transform– historic trauma into an artistic expression of democratic values and inclusive aspirations.
Swords into Plowshares draws inspiration from the prophetic vision of Isaiah 2:4, which celebrates turning tools of violence into ones of peace and community-building. Swords into Plowshares is spearheaded by the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, a Charlottesville Black-led non-profit whose mission is to honor and preserve the rich history and culture of local and global African American communities.
client problem
In December of 2021, after years of activist work to update Virginia state law, Charlottesville’s City Council accepted JSAAHC’s proposal to take possession of the Robert E. Lee statue. This was the catalyst to engaging StickyNote Creative as a design partner to bring to life, an iconic visual mark to capture the project’s vision and the efforts that would be forthcoming.
To further their mission to transform historic trauma into an artistic expression of democratic values and inclusive aspiration, the Swords into Plowshares team gathered community engagement and input, resulting in a publication that documents the project’s outreach, survey results, and key takeaways, serving as both a record and a roadmap for future efforts.
story of impact
The Swords Into Plowshares Community Engagement Report is more than a document—it’s a reflection of a community’s journey toward reckoning and repair. By weaving together voices, data, and lived experiences, the report not only captures the depth of community participation but also amplifies the call to action for artists, funders, and advocates.
Designed to be both informative and inspiring, it serves as a blueprint for transformation, ensuring that this movement extends beyond Charlottesville to communities grappling with similar histories and aspirations.
“I am obsessed!! It's so hopeful!! It's gorgeous.”
what we did
StickyNote Creative initially collaborated with the Swords into Plowshares project team leaders to create a visual mark to capture the project’s vision and the efforts that would be forthcoming.
The SIP logo mark is inspired from photographs of the Lee monument, rendered as a silhouette devoid of color. The artistic transformation that this project seeks to undertake in order to offer Charlottesville and the nation a chance to transform trauma into renewal is signified in the brightly colored stained glass effect birds emerging from Lee’s torso. There is a gradual metamorphosis of the color of the birds – with bold pops of color rising from black and gray – that symbolizes the beautiful and healing nature of the vision when the eventual transfiguration of the bronze statue will be recreated into a new work of public art.
StickyNote Creative transformed a dense, text-heavy report into an engaging, visually compelling publication. The result was a 72-page Community Engagement Report. We navigated the design complexities of balancing in-depth narratives, data, and community voices while ensuring accessibility for a broad audience—Charlottesville residents, artists, and global communities tackling similar issues, and funders invested in social impact.
standout features
Through thoughtful design, we wove together complex content into a clear, digestible format, strategically using layout, color, and typography to enhance readability and impact. The report not only informs but inspires—calling artists to submit proposals, attracting philanthropic support, and offering a replicable model for other communities.
