Beloved Community Narratives Project

“Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

 -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

View the Beloved Community Narratives Project

In the spirit of Dr. King's powerful vision, SUNY Cortland's Beloved Community Narratives Project will offer students, faculty, staff and alumni an opportunity to share their diverse stories.

This project will feature a collaboration of photographic portraits created by photographer Adam Mastoon, and powerful text and artwork created by courageous, empowered SUNY Cortland community members, willing to share their voices and vision with the community at large.

The resulting exhibit will generate an inspiring and insightful window into the lives of SUNY Cortland students, faculty, staff and alumni who are committed to creating a “beloved community” of acceptance, civility, diversity and respect for self and others.

Project Details

The Beloved Community Narratives Project is a photo exhibit of 24 large scale portraits of students, faculty, staff and alumni who have been chosen to have their stories displayed and to also write, draw, or graffiti in the white space of their portrait about what and how they feel about their role in the changing campus climate.

What it would mean to be a participant

  • Attend a three-hour orientation and writing workshop with artist Adam Mastoon.
  • During the workshop answer a series of questions about yourself and your role in the community.
  • Learn about how and what you will do to embellish the white space of your portrait.
  • Sit for a 30-minute portrait session.
  • Meet for a final workshop to write, draw, and embellish your portrait.
  • Participants must be involved with all parts of the project. 

Selected individuals will complete their works over the course of 1-2 day workshop the first week in Feb. 2020.