David Sheffield
I Belong Here | Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
David Sheffield's range of life and work experience are vital tools, uniquely useful in community building. A founder of the NFP, Green Wood Coalition, he's at home alongside people who are struggling at the margins, and those who are not, seeking to weave a tapestry of strong, healthy community. Through opportunities for creative expression and hearing voices of lived experience, he pursues pathways to healing, and hope for a meaningful life. His life in Northumberland County, Ontario has included an array of creative activities, from community art projects and poetry performance to mounting learning events and music festivals.
About the Project
Building on existing relationships that I have with people, this project will use the oral history model to record personal stories of people with lived experience of homelessness and drug use. These narratives will be de-identified and shared with artists and poets who will transform them into works of art for exhibition. Using art in public spaces to interpret stories that emphasize what’s strong and not what’s wrong, will foster community dialogue and invite empathy, Empathy is a vital ingredient in community healing. This project will culminate in a visual art exhibit and written word performance.