Rachael Sophrin Lorimer and Justin T. Relf partnered with the Troy Rehabilitation Program (TRIP) and Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR) along with the Oakwood Community Center to explore themes of home and belonging in the Hillside North neighborhood of Troy, NY. They embarked on a two-year community engagement journey, offering youth performing arts programming, community printmaking workshops, and interviews with current and past residents of all ages. These spaces and conversations generated a treasure trove of personal histories which were transcribed and transformed into an original community theater production. The partnership garnered additional participation from community volunteers who performed in the project’s culminating event, “”Views From the Front Porch”” in May of 2024. This collaboration focused on amplifying community voices and leaning into differences as a strategy for strength and resilience. The project’s flexible design allowed the team to include writers Beverly Hickman and Tai Ortiz. As a result of this work, an archive of the collected personal histories, community-created artworks, and documentation of their creative process will be permanently housed with the Hart Cluett Museum in Troy. Both artists plan to continue their work moving forward: Justin launched DiscoverU, a performing arts program for Troy youth in 2023; and Rachael started her community print shop, Studio OSYARI in 2024.

The Troy Rehabilitation Program (TRIP) and Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR) connects individuals and families with resources and knowledge to live in desirable homes and create vibrant sustainable communities.

Oakwood Community Center’s mission is to bring neighbors together and build bridges among grassroots organizations in the city of Troy, New York. They do this by maintaining the historic Oakwood building as a welcoming and nourishing space.