For Freedoms staged a variety of activations in Milwaukee and Chicago to coincide with the 2024 Republican and Democratic National Converntions Including artist billboards. Designed to galvanize creativity and discourse surrounding the election through artistic interventions, these community-focused activations involved a variety of local and national partners, artists, and civic organizations aimed at uplifting artist voices, engaging local communities, and sparking civic joy.

A billboard by artist Carrie Mae Weems was installed in Chicago, and a billboard by Hank Willis Thomas was installed in Milwaukee during the RNC with others to be installed in key swing states this Fall in partnership with Movement Voter Fund.

In partnership with Gertie, a civic and cultural agency expanding the impact of Chicago's creative economy, Billboards featuring the works of Christine Wong Yap, Ebony G. Patterson, Koyoltzinlti Miranda-Rivadeneira,, Slow and Steady Wins the Race, and a new commission by Jake Troyli, were strategically placed across the city as a part of their Next Stop: Chicago campaign.  These billboards were installed from August through the end of October, to maximize visibility and engagement leading up to, during, and following the convention.

Additionally, For Freedoms participated in Heart + Craft on Lake, a day long community event presented by SkyART on August 21 that featured the unveiling of a permanent mural by Jake Troyli at, commissioned by the youth-centered arts nonprofit in partnership with For Freedoms and Gertie; a Town Hall conversation (further details below); and Autumn Breon’s Care Machine; along with additional community partners and programming.

Lastly, jThe Bench, For Freedoms, and other co-hosts gathered after-hours at Manny’s Deli to revel in the Convention’s finale on August 22 for the non-partisan Unauthorized DNC after party. The event merged up-and-coming activists, politicians, staffers, and journalists with the artists, creatives, and fashion scene of Chicago.