Invitation to Respond
I Was Here Invitation to Respond workshops are a robust, immersive community engagement experience. They incorporate personal narratives, soundscape, spoken word performance, learning, leadership, community building and public art, brought to life through innovative technology and anchored by meaningful human interaction. The personal narratives that have risen from these workshops, on the eve of 2026, offer an opportunity to reflect and contemplate the significance of Nation Building as it relates to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
I wish I could protect you from others that do not see you as I do. I am a protector. I am a nurturer. I am a mom. They try to tear you down because they do not understand you. You’re strong, you’re beautiful, you’re not them. Your difference is fear to them, yet to me, it’s your building block. Continue to build upon your foundation, they cannot knock you down. I will be your fence surrounding you with love and not letting them destroy you.
- Tyra Richardson
Participants explore the power of ancestry as a way to understand personal identity. This exploration is vital to cultivate a generation of informed, empathetic, and proactive leaders. The workshops reveal to participants how their strength, truth, and experiences can give them the tools to become leaders in their communities, as they build their own futures.
The combination of community narrative and images can transform underutilized spaces into vibrant cultural hubs, a testament to the power of the arts in public space.
By providing a platform for youth to express their perspectives, the workshops not only enrich their understanding of their heritage but also foster a sense of belonging and importance within the community, which has an impact in shaping their future.
Participants will participate in a series of four workshops focusing on these key elements:
The importance of the truth about American (Black) history.
The ability to engage with peers in critical conversation through shared experiences.
Learn how to activate voice and craft personal narratives.
Bring their words into public space and develop confidence as a community voice and public speaker.
In essence, the I Was Here Project doesn’t just enrich the landscape—it deepens the roots. It creates space for collective memory, artistic brilliance, and a more complete, inclusive story of who “we” are as a community. The I Was Here Project will shine as an example of unity—contributing to a more inclusive, culturally rich, and emotionally resonant future for the country and its people.
To be a descendant of the people who helped create the foundation of a ‘free’ nation means to be strong. It means to be independent, self-aware, fearless and intelligent. To be a descendent of Nation Builders means to be human.
- Nia Henderson-Louis
