100 Days 100 Voices
After the presidential election last November, individuals across the country felt lost, alone, and confused on how a Trump presidency would impact the country. The Women’s Resource Center’s Reproductive Justice Action Team (RJAT) spent meetings brainstorming ways they could turn these feelings into something beneficial for the campus. Their goal was not only to act in resistance, but also to uplift each other by showing community voices so no one on campus felt alone. RJAT decided they wanted to use art as activism and decided on a photo project titled “100 Days 100 Voices.” According to RJAT member Kayla Townsley they decided on this project because they wanted members of RJAT to be the background behind the project rather than the focal point. They hoped to act as a platform for the community in order to highlight the different identities and intersectionalities of individuals being affected by the election. The project, which would take place during the first 100 days after the inauguration, spotlights a different individual’s voice each day with a picture of them alongside their words on the 100 Days 100 Voices Instagram and Facebook page (links can be found at the end of the article).
For Kayla, the project has been very impactful so far. “Most of the people so far are people I know but have never heard their story before. It gives you a feeling of unity and solidarity even if you haven’t experienced the exact same things.” Even though Kayla was feeling very down after the inauguration, this project helped lift spirits. “The inspiration I get from this project reminds me there are other people feeling similar things and fighting through it together. It really shows me the power of the people.”
The project still has a big future ahead of it with the inauguration being only about a month ago. For Kayla, this means the project still has plenty of room to grow. “The most important thing for me moving forward is to keep up the momentum. Posting every day can be difficult, making sure we have a photo everyday to share so people know they are able to jump on board and get involved at any point in the project.” According to Kayla, seeing the project once they reach the end of the 100 days is going to be the biggest reward. Kayla and the rest of RJAT plan to create a video compilation of everyone who participated in 100 Days 100 Voices that will be shown at The Women’s Resource Center event Take Back the Night on April 13th. The compilation will present the overarching goal of the project- art as activism.
** RJAT is still looking for more individuals to share their voice with them! If you are interested in getting involved with the 100 Days 100 Voices project or interested in sharing your photo and post-inauguration feelings, contact RJAT by email or through social media! Everyone is welcome to submit their thoughts (you do not have to be a PSU student!) and encouraged to use a picture that makes them feel most comfortable. Individuals can either submit their own photo or have a member of RJAT take a photo for them. Even if you’re not interested in sharing your own voice, take a look at those who already have with the links below and come to Take Back the Night to see the final product!
RJAT can be reached by email at [email protected]
Submissions are also accepted via social media:
https://www.facebook.com/100days100voices/
https://www.instagram.com/100days100voices/
TBTN Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/231616503919691/
Top photo credit: Reproductive Justice Action Team’s Facebook page.
Story written by: Devon Stoeber