Rural and Community Art Project

The goal of this project is to create an intercultural group of advocates for affordable housing and supportive services in rural MN. Specifically with ARAC funding to support a zAmya performance in Grand Rapids we aim for the following outcomes: -20 Grace House residents participate in a June story circle workshop -8 community members (inc. Grace House clients) participate in zAmya's Grand Rapids production. -300 audience members attend A Prairie Homeless Companion in October -A live broadcast of the performance has the potential reach to an additional 5,000 Broadcast audience -The performance receives substantial media coverage -Attendance by civic leaders at the production. Audience members leave with a personal connection to the subject matter of homelessness and the people experiencing it. They understand that homelessness can look different than what they thought, dismantling many common stereotypes. Participants leave feeling heard, acknowledged, empowered, and connected. Story circle participation and audience attendance will be easily quantified through sign-in sheets and event registration. Regarding the attitude and knowledge outcomes we seek to achieve, which can be generally described as ?increased awareness and education?, we plan to determine the impact by assessing: - The quality of the post-show talkback conversations - Responses to surveys given to audience members and participants - Feedback provided by Northeast Continuum of Care provider collaborative through follow-up evaluation conversation The behavioral changes we seek to achieve through this project (eg, increased opportunities for those with lived experience of homelessness to share their stories, etc.) will occur after the project ends, as an extension of the knowledge and attitude changes we hope to achieve more immediately.