Expressing community through freedom market and visual connections

ABSTRACT

Building on a long-term university/community research partnership, this article examines how different ways of conceptualizing, interpreting, and producing murals impacted how an urban community saw itself. Using a participatory action research design, university researchers worked alongside community researchers to ethnographically document the transformation. Findings indicate that the mural project constructed pathways for building relationships and community in ways that made neighborhood transformation possible. The mural project embodied this transformative goal by providing a space where people gathered with shared attention to talk and to envision how their lives and their community could be different.

KEYWORDS:

• Participatory action research
• community art
• community transformation
• multimodal expression
• visual connections

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the residents of the Beechwood neighborhood of Rochester for their generosity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. All names are pseudonyms, except Freedom Market, Rochester, and Northeast Area Development (NEAD)

2. NEAD is a not-for-profit neighborhood organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. The volunteers and staff work with city officials and agencies to revitalize and stabilize the Hollywood neighborhood in the northeast quadrant of Rochester, NY. NEAD is organized and operated to improve quality of life through economic development coupled with Housing, Education, Cultural, Recreational, and Social activities. (http://neadRochester.org)

3. The seven principles of nguzo saba were developed by Maulana Karenga as the foundation for the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa, which focuses on honoring African-American heritage. http://ibw21.org/vantage-point/the-nguzo-saba-and-kwanzaa-in-a-time-of-crisis/ Accessed on 12/09/16

4. “The CDF Freedom Schools program provides summer and after-school enrichment through a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational leadership development, and nutrition, health and mental health. In partnership with community based organizations, faith institutions, schools, colleges and universities, the CDF Freedom Schools program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities.” http://www.childrensdefense.org/library/data/freedom-schools-fact-sheet.pdf Accessed 12/09/16.

5. Sankofa is a term used by the Akan people of West Africa that means to go back to a community’s roots to move forward. Sankofa is represented as a mythic bird that typically has an egg on its back which symbolizes the future. https://www.sankofa.org/mission Accessed 12/09/16

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Grant number 430-2013-1025].

Notes on contributors

Joanne Larson

Joanne Larson, PhD is the Michael W. Scandling Professor of Education and associate chair of the Center for Urban Education Success at the University of Rochester’s Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development in Rochester, NY. Larson’s ethnographic research examines how language and literacy practices mediate social and power relations in schools and communities.

Courtney Hanny

Courtney Hanny, PhD graduated from the University of Rochester’s Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and a Research Analyst at the SUNY Research Foundation in Buffalo, NY. With a background in art education, literature, and alternative community literacies, her research employs a psychological anthropological approach to social difference, identity, and epistemological justice in learning contexts.

Joyce Duckles

Joyce Duckles, PhD As an assistant professor of Human Development at the Warner School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester, Dr. Duckles specializes in family studies, community development, informal learning, and participatory research practices. Her current research includes a 6-year ethnographic collaborative project on urban community transformation. She presents widely with community and university co-researchers on models of urban transformation, supporting neighborhood and family well-being, and addressing disparities through reframing practices of collaborative research and publicly engaged scholarship.

Hoang Pham

Hoang Phamis a PhD student at the Margaret E. Warner school of Education and Human Development, University of Rochester. He joined the Freedom Market research group in 2013. He feels fortunate to work collaboratively with this community’s citizens on this participatory action research project. His PhD research focuses on Southeast Asian American students and their access to college.

Robert Moses

Robert Moses is the director of economic development for North East Area Development (NEAD) and the manager of Freedom Market in Rochester, NY.

George Moses

George Moses serves as the executive director of North East Area Development (NEAD) and Group 14,621 Community Association in Rochester, NY. He graduated from Monroe Community College where he had the opportunity to represent Community College students across the nation as the VP for Legislative Advocacy for the American Student Association of Community Colleges. He also proudly served in the United States Navy and has been privileged to currently serve his community as the chairperson of the Democratic Committee for the 21at District.