In-Person Discussion with the Team: Thursday, September 23rd at 7 p.m.
See My Story is a collaborative, photography-based, multimedia project designed to raise awareness about homelessness in Evanston. It combines large scale portraits of homeless individuals by Doug Haight along with their personal stories. Working with project partners Connections for the Homeless and Interfaith Action, this community-based project invites local homeless individuals to powerfully share their personal narratives to offer deeper understanding of their often complicated lives. Each portrait and the accompanying story is the result of a relationship built on respect and trust that recognizes each participant as a unique individual with a story to tell – and learn from.
See My Story not only seeks to empower the subjects of the photographs but hopefully it will also inspire all homeless individuals in Evanston to see themselves with greater self esteem, equality and opportunity. The success of See My Story depends on bringing a diversity of people from all parts of Evanston, the Northshore and Chicago to experience the exhibit and participate in a community conversation that raises awareness about the challenges of homelessness and opportunities for better solutions.
See My Story has received grants from the Evanston Arts Council and the Evanston Community Foundation. Additional completion funds were raised through a See My Story Go Fund Me campaign of 47 friends and supporters. See My Story was originally scheduled to exhibit in April of 2020 but was delayed by the Covid pandemic. Some edits and additions have been made for the September 2021 exhibition.
See My Story Team:
Doug Haight: Photographer, Interviewer, Producer
Bob Tanner: Interviewer, Producer
Jeff Forgash: Community Liaison, Producer
Bill Bridges: Producer
Liz Reeves: Producer
Betsy Station: Writer, Editor
See My Story Partners:
Connections for the Homeless
Interfaith Action of Evanston
www.SeeMyStory.org, @seemystoryinfo