VOCAL-NY Art + Storytelling Group

In 2023, Graham MacIndoe and I began facilitating an Art & Storytelling Group at VOCAL-NY's drop-in center in Brooklyn. VOCAL-NY serves people navigating substance use, mental health, housing, and other challenges, empowering community members to advocate for policies that support their dignity, rights, and health. With support from the Sprout Society, the Art & Storytelling group met 25 times in 2023-2024, reaching more than 60 participants who made art combining writing, drawing, collage, and photography. Some of their artwork was displayed at VOCAL-NY's 2024 open house as well as exhibited in the U.K.

Photos from an art and writing workshop Graham co-facilitated at VOCAL-NY are online here, also published in a zine in 2019. Thanks to all of the participants who shared their stories and opened up about how they think other people or the camera sees them, as well as how they’d like to be seen or view themselves.