“As someone who has conducted research using photovoice, I truly appreciated this workshop. During our time together, we were able to see the power and ability to use and share voice within the photos that each person shared,” said Rev. Dr. Zaria Davis, a United Church of Christ minister, senior consultant for nonprofits, and a participant in the recent Interfaith Photovoice workshop at the Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference in Omaha, Nebraska last week. “I would love to see more faith based groups, organizations, and congregations utilize this method to research and engage. [I’m] excited to support Interfaith Photovoice in the future.”

Interfaith Photovoice founder and director Roman Williams had the privilege to attend the conference from June 5-6th on the Tri-Faith Commons in Omaha and to share on how photovoice can be used to meet the multi-faced needs of our religiously and racially diverse communities.

Jeremy Fricke, Tri-Faith’s Vice President of Mission Advancement, shared that “The importance of hearing someone's story has been key for empathy building, but Roman Williams's Interfaith Photovoice helps us practice to the next level — to SEE someone's story. My time in Roman's workshop was well worth it, and everyone in my group wanted more time together.”

The Tri-Faith Commons where the conference was hosted is a unique interreligious space. Temple Israel, Countryside Community Church, and the American Muslim Institute, as well as Tri-Faith’s Commons building, all call the same geographical space home. A bridge, named Abraham’s Bridge, and a shared Tri-Faith Garden and Orchard connect the mosque, synagogue, and church. Williams found the inclusive experiment in co-location to be an inspiring vision for what American religious pluralism can be. “The genius of Tri-Faith is that they’ve invited three congregations to move into the same spiritual neighborhood and in doing so they’ve created a unique opportunity for relationship, cooperation, and interpersonal change. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see more of this not just with houses of worship, but with families in our communities.”

The theme of the conference this year was Sustainable Progress, a theme that the tool of photovoice has much to contribute. Williams hosted a workshop with an enthusiastic group of individuals who had come from all over the country for the conference. In addition to learning about what photovoice is and how it can be used to transform communities, participants experienced it. They discussed their photos around gratitude and explored the ways these conversations build relationships across differences and offer insights into the lived experiences of people from different walks of life. 

The conference was hosted by the Tri-Faith Commons and the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Religious Studies Department. Learn more about the Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference and the other presenters on Tri-Faith’s website.