Project Status: In Progress

The project seeks to engage residents of "The Dunes" encampment in arts-based methods designed to develop representations of the lived experience of homeless individuals and groups in illegalized encampments in greater Providence. Specifically, the project uses the participatory Photovoice method and discussion circles to engage residents in collecting photos and short audio recordings as well as creating captions for the images they capture. The images will be shared in a physical exhibit for residents of The Dunes, in an accessible website, and in the Brown Digital Repository. The project aims to engage public discourse around the nuanced and layered problem of homelessness in Rhode Island, a state rarely included in national conversations on homelessness, share stories and perspectives from unhoused people in Rhode Island, and generate dialogue and creative approaches to developing new solutions.

Contributors to this project include Karen Andres (co-PI), Megan Smith (co-PI), Tarika Sankar (CDS Lead), Ashley Champagne (CDS Lead), Mairelys Lemus-Rojas, Elizabeth Yalkut, Patrick Rashleigh