Through a community art initiative, a Florida State University art professor is recognizing the resilience of the small rural community of Steinhatchee in the aftermath of hurricanes Idalia and Debby.
“Learning from Local Experience to Strengthen Disaster Resilience” is led by Katie Kehoe, assistant professor in the Department of Art, in partnership with the Steinhatchee Community Projects Board. The objective is to invite members of the community to write on three life rings distributed at key locations about how they have been impacted and what helped them weather the storm.
“It has been wonderful to read the nominations that have been put forth by community members so far,” Kehoe said. “They are truly a testament to the strength of Steinhatchee. We can learn a lot from the way friends and neighbors have come together here in the wake of two natural disasters. This is the real Florida.”
Community members are also asked to nominate neighbors to be recognized for their resilience following the storm. Residents can submit nominations by visiting NominateMyNeighbor.us.
This project is part of the pilot research initiative that examines how rural communities recover from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. It was funded by the Office of Research’s Collaborative Collision program, an interdisciplinary networking event that unites researchers from seemingly disparate disciplines around a common topic.
“This project demonstrates how art can bring communities together and play a part in healing and how powerful it can be as a catalyst for important conversations,” said Jeff Beekman, chair of the Department of Art. “When Department of Art faculty are able to connect with other innovators from across campus through initiatives like Collaborative Collision, great things happen.”
The project will conclude with a public tree planting and dedication event at Steinhatchee’s Community Center from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. All nominees will be recognized by name and three will be selected by Steinhatchee Community Projects Board to have a tree planted and dedicated in their honor.
The life rings are currently located at the Steinhatchee Post Office, Vystar Credit Union, and the American Legion through Friday, Aug. 23.
“We are thrilled to see this Collaborative Collision project positively impact the Steinhatchee Community,” said Beth Hodges, director of research development at FSU. “We know this area was just in the path of Hurricane Debby, and it is important to have our faculty participate in the response.”
Resilience is a top focus of ASPIRE, the university’s research strategic plan.
For more information, visit NominateMyNeighbor.us.