WED-093 - WeCAN Community Art Narrative Project: Photo Ethnography Reflection of Resilience in the Porters Quarters Community

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how the WeCAN Photo Ethnography project leverages visual art to examine over four decades of longitudinal changes in a historically underserved community in Gainesville, FL. Original paintings and digitized archival photos as visual data document shifts in equitable resources caused by disinvestment and gentrification in the area. Learn how mixed-method evaluation using quantitative analysis of participation metrics and attendance rates with qualitative data captured through key informant interviews and visual art data provide insights into community impact. This presentation highlights a replicable model for public health practitioners to consider creative engagement, collaboration, and visual preservation of cultural context as tools for creating sustainable systemic change.

Detailed abstract description: Background

The Porters Quarters Community, Gainesville, Florida’s oldest Black neighborhood, has been historically underserved and under-resourced. Systemic barriers, including financial disinvestment and gentrification, have eroded the neighborhood’s access to equitable resources, which, over time, has weakened the quality of life for residents. The WeCAN Photographic Ethnography project was developed to assess these changes over time and implement art-based programming to promote awareness of the community’s current strengths and needs and empower residents by facilitating partnerships with local higher learning institutions and social service agencies.

Methods

The project consisted of three phases, including a three-part workshop series, analysis of visual art data (paintings and archival community photographs), and a culminating community share-out event. Local artists and residents contributed visual narratives through paintings, while archival photos documenting four decades of community change were analyzed. The final event at the University of Florida’s Harn Museum of Art included these visual elements and oral histories from key community informants from the Porters Quarters neighborhood, highlighting the socio-historical changes.

A mixed-methods approach guided the evaluation. Quantitative metrics assessed participation rates, event attendance, and outreach metrics. Secondary data from local agencies evaluated equitable access to social and health services. Qualitative insights were derived from interviews with key informants, completed by thematic analysis of archival photographs, revealing longitudinal changes in community resources and infrastructure.

Results

The culminating exhibition featured 22 original paintings by community members, accompanied 83 digitized archival photographs, visually capturing the historical transformations within the neighborhood. The event drew 147 attendees, including residents, institutional partners, and local policymakers. Post-event survey data indicated that 92% of participants experienced an enhanced sense of cultural identity and pride, while 87% indicating strengthened community bonds. Qualitative interviews confirmed the program’s effectiveness in fostering connections between residents and stakeholders while leveraging art-based engagement as a catalyst for systemic change.

Implications

WeCAN offers a replicable model for culturally relevant public health interventions through five key elements: 1) cultural preservation, 2) creative empowerment, 3) equity-centered compensation, 4) intergenerational storytelling, and 5) sustainable cross-sector partnerships. Using mixed methods for evaluation of this project supports the intersection of arts and public health integration to influence long-term systemic change.