intersections of identity

Arts Based Approaches to Informing Systems Change on Poverty and Homelessness

 
 

Commencing in March 2024, a series of five beading workshops will unfold across Alberta, spanning communities in Lethbridge, Calgary, Wetaskiwin, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie. These workshops, grounded in healing practices, aim to engage individuals from low-income backgrounds who have been affected by homelessness. Through the therapeutic medium of beading, participants will find a nurturing environment conducive to learning and connection. Moreover, these sessions will serve as forums for dialogue, shaping conversations that inform decision-making at institutional and systemic levels, particularly in service delivery.

Centering on healing-focused interactions that prioritize the voices and experiences of those directly impacted, this initiative seeks to pinpoint barriers to accessing essential resources and devise actionable solutions to mitigate homelessness. The overarching goal is to disseminate these insights to stakeholders, service providers, and decision-makers. Additionally, the project endeavours to shed light on strategies for combating racism and other forms of discrimination prevalent in services and policies aimed at addressing homelessness.

Aligned with the Intersections of Identity Research Framework, this project probes the intricate systems perpetuating oppression across various sectors, including the justice system, children and family services, healthcare, community inclusion, shelter standards, and food security.

Upon the completion of the arts-based workshops, a comprehensive report and action plan will be crafted and shared with stakeholders and the community at large. Furthermore, the project team will develop policy impact training to bolster capacity-building efforts and propel actionable ideas forward.

Artist Profiles

Carla Taylor, Lead Artist

Carla Rae Taylor is a highly respected and accomplished artist with a profound dedication to using art as a vehicle for social change and healing. With extensive experience in community engagement and public art projects, Carla has demonstrated exceptional leadership and artistic talent throughout her career.

Since 2016, Carla has been a pivotal figure at the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, where she has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at promoting reconciliation, human rights, and social justice. One of her notable contributions includes her role as a lead artist for Paint the Rails, a groundbreaking public mural and reconciliation education project in collaboration with Edmonton Transit Service. Through this project, Carla worked closely with diverse cultural communities to create murals that address sensitive topics such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls with compassion and dignity. Edmonton Transit has been so moved by this art that our partnership continues to grow and emerge. Over the past year, Carla took leadership with a team of fifteen other emerging or young artists to create a 137 foot public mural in the pedway between City Centre Mall and Churchill Station.

Carla's artistic vision and collaborative spirit have left a lasting impact on the Edmonton community, with her murals becoming iconic landmarks in transit centers. Her ability to transform difficult stories into transformative pieces of art reflects her deep empathy and commitment to amplifying marginalized voices.

Brenda Mercer has been beading for 51 years, as she started when she was eight years old. Her non-Indigenous cousin taught her the daisy stitch, and Mercer was hooked. The artist always has earrings inside her purse, to give to strangers and friends.

Brenda Mercer has been beading for 51 years, as she started when she was eight years old. Her non-Indigenous cousin taught her the daisy stitch, and Mercer was hooked. The artist always has earrings inside her purse, to give to strangers and friends. When giving, she shares a little bit about who she is and her story, “I tell them, ‘I made these for you with all my love and good intentions. I’ve had people come up to me a year later saying they wear them with pride and still feel the love.'” Mercer also hosts Sharing Stories at the Saamis Tepee, where she shares personal stories and Indigenous stories from the past, while she teaches an Indigenous craft to the group.