Shared Light

Why this matters

Loneliness isn't always loud. Sometimes it shows up as silence. Sometimes as the feeling that no one quite sees you.

Shared Light people viewing a sunset together

But beneath that ache is a deeper truth: we long to connect.Art has always helped us name what’s hard to say out loud. It can hold a memory, a truth, a cry for help—or a glimmer of hope. And when we talk about that art together, something shifts. We realize we’re not the only ones feeling this way.

That’s the heart of Shared Light: Not just sharing our pain, but sharing what gets us through.

How to Nominate Art and "Vote"

1. Nominate artwork on WithCommunity

Our partner WithCommunity manages our Shared Light campaign. Anyone can submit a piece of art—something that helped you feel connected, seen, or simply less alone. It can be visual, musical, written, or performed—as long as it’s viewable online. When you nominate something, we’ll ask:

Leah Romano McMeen illustration painting for shared light

What moved you about this piece? How did it affect your sense of loneliness or belonging?

Not sure where to start? Here are three ways art can make an impact:

‍Mirror – It reflected something true about you or your experience.

Torch – It helped you feel less alone or gave you strength.

Bridge – It connected you to someone, a memory, or something you’d lost.

Each nomination will be featured in our public WithCommunity Art Collection, with a page that includes your reflection. Artists are welcome to nominate their own work.

Nominate Artwork at WithCommunity

2. Join a Salon Conversation

Once nominations begin, we’ll host small-group Zoom salons where participants can explore:

What the nominated art evokes
What belonging feels like—and how we find it
How connection can be nurtured in a disconnected world

These are not debates or performances. They’re spaces of human dialogue, grounded in curiosity and care.

3. Lift Up What Resonates

Throughout the series, we invite the public to engage by sharing the artwork that resonates most.

Instead of traditional voting, we ask: What piece helped you feel something real?

Share the link to your favorite artwork’s page
Add your thoughts or story
Use the hashtags #SharedLight and #CommunityHealsUs

We'll track these hashtags on social media and bring the conversations together. This form of public response helps us understand not just popularity, but meaningful engagement—who’s sharing, why it mattered, and how others respond.

4. Reflection and Recognition

Rather than traditional voting, we’ll invite participants to engage, reflect, and lift up the pieces that resonate most—through conversation, sharing, and social signals.We’ll review insights from the salon conversations, social sharing, and written reflections to select featured pieces.Selections will be based on:

Emotional resonance
Depth of conversation sparked
Thoughtful engagement across platforms

Selected artists and nominators will receive cash or in-kind prizes.

When someone opens up about what helped them feel less alone, it can light the way for someone else.

This series is about recognizing what has helped us through loneliness—and offering that light to others.
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A cartoon that made you laugh. A poem that helped you cry. A painting that reminded you of someone you miss.

By lifting up those moments of connection, we’re not just sharing art. We’re sharing the light we found in the dark.

Want to get involved?

Whether you're an artist, a neighbor, a community group, or just someone who cares:

You’re invited.

‍Nominate artwork. Join a salon. Share what made you feel a little more whole. This is how community heals us.