Overview
Raasin in the Sun is a creative placemaking nonprofit founded by Raasin McIntosh, an Olympian and community builder based in Austin, Texas. I worked with the organization for roughly three years as Head of Content, building the media and documentation foundation for its most formative projects. This was my entry point into telling stories behind large-scale public art.
Key Projects Documented
The Alley Project
Transforming a dirty alley into a cultural event space.
The Delco Project
A home-beautification initiative culminating in a $5,000 donation.
Colores de la Cultura
A street mural celebrating Latina identity by two well-known Latina muralists.
Juneteenth with Rev. Dixon
A mobile storytelling project documenting East Austin history.
Rise of Masontown
A major mural and documentary on Black land ownership and industrial Austin.
The Story Behind Six Square
A documentary capturing the origin and mission of Six Square, a cultural organization preserving Black history in Central East Austin.
Be Well Murals
A 2020 mural series that later won Best of Austin.
Walls Unite
A large-scale warehouse restoration and outdoor art gallery.
The Master Plan: Where It All Began
Examining gentrification and environmental racism in East Austin since 1928.
Impact
- Helped secure multiple six-figure grants, including funding tied directly to documentary work.
- Elevated Raasin in the Sun's visibility and credibility across Austin.
- Built a repeatable model for pairing public art, storytelling, and funding.
- Established Raasin McIntosh as a leading voice in creative placemaking.
What This Case Proves
Raasin in the Sun is where we learned how to produce meaning, not just content.