Unhoused Photovoice Community Gallery opens in Ellsworth
For immediate release, please
January 22, 2026
Program Contact: Amber Kennedy, amber.kennedy@healthyacadia.org
Media Contact: Tracey Carlson, tracey@healthyacadia.org
Unhoused Photovoice Community Gallery opens in Ellsworth
ELLSWORTH, Maine — Community members are invited to attend Unhoused, a powerful Photovoice Community Gallery featuring photographs and personal stories shared by people with lived experience of housing instability. The gallery opening will be held on Friday, February 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 24 Church St. in Ellsworth, located on the back side of the building. Light refreshments will be provided.
This thought-provoking exhibit provides an honest, first-person glimpse into what it means to navigate homelessness in our region. Through images and written narratives, participants share their perspectives on resilience, hope, belonging, and the real challenges faced by neighbors in our community. Visitors are encouraged to reflect, connect, and show their support.
Unhoused is part of a Haven Photovoice project, a community-based storytelling approach that uses photography and narrative to empower people to document and share their lived experiences. Photovoice centers participants as the experts of their own stories, shifting power from researchers and institutions to individuals whose voices are too often unheard.
In a Photovoice project, participants work together to explore a shared theme, such as finding home or facing stigma. They take photographs in their daily environments, then come together in facilitated discussions to reflect on what the images mean and what they reveal about common challenges and strengths. The photos and first-person stories are then presented in a public exhibit, creating opportunities for community dialogue, raising awareness, and informing decision-makers. Haven Photovoice has been used across Maine and beyond in public health, social justice, and community development efforts.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(c)(3) community health organization dedicated to building vibrant communities and making it easier for everyone to lead healthy lives. Serving Washington and Hancock counties, the organization provides community health support and leadership across Maine. For more information, visit healthyacadia.org.
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