2026 Art Contest Winners and Finalists
The winners have been announced!
Voting has ended! See Who You Chose for the People’s Choice Award. Judge’s Award announced on Monday, April 6.
Artists from across the Bay Area have shared their creativity, stories, and vision to show how 211 connects people to help when it matters most. Now it’s your turn to help choose the winners.
To celebrate 211 Day, United Way Bay Area invited artists from all eight counties we serve to create artwork inspired by the impact of 211—a free, 24/7 resource available in over 150 languages through phone, text, or online. 211 is one of the few services that connects the entire Bay Area, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano counties.
Your vote helps highlight the artists who embody the spirit of their communities and increases awareness of this essential service that thousands depend on daily.
Your People’s Choice Winner
With over 1,500 total votes, spread over seven regional finalists, you’ve chosen your winner!
Cuong Dinh
Santa Clara
Artist Statement On Their Work:
Using the real numbers from the report (from 211 report and dashboard website ) is the best way to show how 211 connects people, places, and communities in Santa Clara and Bay Area.
My paper collage illustrates how the 211 hotline serves as a lifeline that connects people, places, and communities throughout Santa Clara. Flowing outward from the numbers are layered paper lines and pathways that link diverse individuals—families, seniors, veterans, children, and workers—to essential community resources.
Using overlapping textures and colors, I represent different services such as housing, food assistance, healthcare, mental health support, and emergency aid. The Images are woven together to show how 211 bridges gaps between need and help. Each piece of paper, though unique in shape and color, fits together to form a unified whole—just like the people and organizations in our community.
The collage reflects the idea that connection is power. When someone calls/text 211, they are not alone;they are linked to a network of care, compassion, and opportunity. This artwork celebrates how one simple call/text can strengthen individuals, support families, and unite our entire county through understanding and access to resources.
‘The Power in Connection’ is shown not only through imagery, but through data—proving that 211 is more than a phone number. It is a bridge that transforms information into action, and need into support. Through connection, Santa Clara community becomes stronger, more informed, and more united.
The Judge’s Award
A very special thank you to Donna Colson for the gift that allows us to fund a second Judge’s Award Winner
Krystal Balajadia
Contra Costa
Artist Statement On Their Work:
Wanting to depict United Way Bay Area’s 211 hotline’s message, ‘The Power in Connection’ through several visuals, I decided to hand paint detailed bottle caps via acrylic gouache. I repurposed 21 bottle caps that came from bottles found/recycled that I found around the Bay Area. I deliberately chose 21 bottle caps as a nod to the 211 number itself, and in addition, I purposefully laid them out to form the number shape-wise. My goal was to communicate the ultimate community connection from visuals that make more sense when put together, kinda like people! Through each cap, I visually explore just how much United Way Bay Area’s 211 hotline is a helping hand for communities in times of need.
211 can guide those that are hungry and struggling to access food via free food programs such as food stamps, food pantries, farmer’s markets and more. In that case, I painted a top-down view of an apple like you would see at a food pantry;and vegetable stew, where you would see at a soup kitchen. I also explore how 211 provides equitable solutions for homelessness by painting a hand holding out and providing a vibrant red house, with the word ‘home’ coming out like smoke from the chimney-as it’s more than just a building. The origami money heart represents expense aid, while the small red house being swallowed by waves indicates how 211 provides for disaster relief. The fire, water droplet, and light (bulb) also poke at the housing utilities service, while the baby sapling is a tribute to youth assistance. In addition, mental health support from 211 is showcased through a counseling ‘You Matter’ text as well as a cracked purple cap with a lotus peeking out. The color of the cracked cap and type of flower symbolizes domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, and the cracked cap itself relays the concept of how you don’t have to struggle in silence, especially with understanding the kind of support 211 provides. Furthermore, the concept of a deep community is being visually displayed by a cap with various colored dots together (acting as people), one with several different languages saying ‘Hello’ (over 150 languages supported and offered from 211), and through a very significant cap representing my county (Contra Costa) with the Bay Bridge among the clouds.
From resources such as shelter, transportation, mental health, medical, food, immigration and legal services,utilities and expense aid, disaster relief, and so much more-United Way Bay Area’s hotline of 211 holds a strong connection among the community, and I hope I did it justice with my piece, ‘The Connecting Caps of Hotline 211’.
Oscar Tuda
Contra Costa
Artist Statement On Their Work:
This poster-style design highlights what 2-1-1 represents and the essential services it provides to the Bay Area community. Through uplifting and inclusive visuals, it encourages individuals and families to seek support without hesitation during times of need. The message emphasizes compassion, connection, and reassurance, reinforcing that no one faces hardship alone and that, by supporting one another, our community can move forward together with strength and hope. In the poster you can see the state of California and the historic Golden Gate Bridge which easily represents the Bay Area. I placed some visuals on some of the services 2.1.1 can provide upon request, such as food resources, crisis support and housing. Also reminder that the service is free, confidential and it’s availability is 24/7 was added as well.
Regional Winners and Finalists
Click an entry to see more information about the work.