Caregiver Narrative Project End-of-Year Update
Jarod from the California Work & Family Coalition here!
Since 2021, we’ve been working on an internal Caregiver Narrative Project (CNP) with members. The goal of this project is to analyze the current harmful narratives around care work and caregiving to envision a new narrative that values caregivers and uplifts the strength of collective care. With a study group in phase one and a Learning Circle in phase two, we created a safe space to explore current narratives and new ideas including caregiving as an act of resistance and a collective good.
In the first phase of the CNP, the Coalition learned that art and photography* can powerfully expand our understanding of care relationships. We recently finished taking our own photos to amplify the stories of caregivers and highlight the messages we learned throughout the project.
These sessions were so much more than just getting the pictures. It was about creating an authentic, kind, and nurturing environment while being together. The image above is a between-the-scenes shot of Colin, one of our photography participants, and myself. Colin has partial visual impairment and we took a selfie so he could better see me.
I look forward to reflecting more on what we learned, as Coalition staff is working on a report to share out with our members and allies in the new year.
Thank you to everyone - Coalition members and partners - who shared your time, experiences, and knowledge with us. I can’t wait to build a world where care is valued and where everyone gets the support they need to both provide and receive care.
*Two pieces that moved me are “Flying Feast” by Sonja Alhäuser and “My Parents” by Song Yongping. They were both previously featured in the “Take Care" exhibit at the Smart Museum of Art in Chicago.
