Colors of Resilience: The Thought Behind the Project
written in September 2023
If you are here from my previously published article Colors of Resilience: How to Spend Grant Money (like a boss), then thank you for clicking the link to this article. This is where I get to nerd out and talk about the thought behind this project. I'll be talking about some concepts I learned while I was studying for my diploma in Mental Health and Addictions, and referencing some research I've come across since.
Let's start by talking about the concept of Maslows Hierarchy. For those unfamiliar with it, Maslow's Hierarchy explains that an individual is unable to achieve self-actualization until all of their basic human level needs are met. Okay, still sounding like gibberish? Let's break down what ''self actualization'' means. Self-actualization, according to Maslow, is the desire to become the most we can be. He refers to it as a ''B-level need'' which is in contrast to ''D-level needs,'' which are needs that must be met, otherwise we experience a deficiency in our person. Okay, that definition kind of makes sense, right? Well, let's give some context to the levels. The way Maslow separates these needs is through a triangle, structured like this:
Self-Actualization: the desire to become the most we can be, as defined by fostering our creativity and our intellect
Esteem needs: respect, self-esteem,, status, recognition, strength, freedom
Love and Belonging: friendship, intimacy, family, sense of connection
Safety needs: security, resources, health, property, employment
Basic needs: food, water, shelter, physical connection
How many of these needs do folks WITH fixed addresses meet? Now think about those of us who don't have fixed addresses. They can barely meet the bottom tier of the hierarchy. Now, why is this relevant to the Colors of Resilience project? Well, many shelters and social services that serve homeless populations structure their approach to getting folks housed off of Maslow's Hierarchy. This is referred to as the ''Housing-First Model,'' where the ultimate goal to tackling homelessness is meeting those basic needs, understanding that the rest will follow, according to Maslow.
I have been working with the homeless population of my city since I was 19 years old. I can tell you that this model succeeds only a small percentage of time, where folks fall into homelessness as an accidental misstep, but are still supported by their community or loved ones. What about the folks who are transient? Those who have experienced homelessness for 5+ years, those who no longer even view themselves as people, have only been surviving day-to-day since their first time experiencing homelessness? It's been proven over and over again that putting them in a position to just meet their basic needs still results in a return to homelessness. So, here's where this project comes in.
What if an individual was given the opportunity to achieve self-actualization before they have their D-level needs met? Would that prove to them that there is more to life than just surviving day-to-day? Would this opportunity give them the self-worth we are trying to achieve by giving them housing-first?
The thought behind the Colors of Resilience project was to flip Maslow's Hierarchy on its head, and give folks without fixed addresses the chance to see their worth creatively, before they find housing. If you give an artist the space to create, and a chance to flourish creatively, giving them meeting their esteem-level needs through the status they earn as an established artist in our community, will they respond by acknowledging the value? Or will this be brushed off as just ''people feeling bad for'' them? Will it mean something?
The truth is, I don't have an answer for you yet, as the exhibit is still ongoing (from now until August 26th at 7pm). But I will post an update once all of our artists have received their income from the show. One thing I will point out is that our artists were given the opportunity to attend the reception - people who are often overlooked and mistreated, were some of the most respectful attendees I've seen at a reception. They mingled with the other attendees, and even had the chance to make some friends who live differently than they do.
I feel like it's already working: the reintegration with society, the opportunities to hang with folks they wouldn't meet otherwise, and the knowledge that their work is being seen and respected, has given them value. They are now achieving self-actualization, meaning the rest of the hierarchy will follow.
Stay tuned for an updated post following the end of the exhibit. This has been such an exciting venture! I hope to see this project outlast me, and become a yearly staple here in Windsor, ON, CA.
