CreatINg Places: Bringing Our Seats to the Table
We kick off this series with the Founder and Executive Director of Teena’s Legacy, Jamika Smith.
A random visual in a neighborhood alley sparked what would become a realized vision. As a child, per the instruction of her grandmother (Teena), Jamika and her siblings were sent out to “dumpster dive†and find things to salvage. Her grandmother believed in self-sufficiency and her vision for her family was for them to tap into their natural gifts and use them to start their own business and leave a legacy for their children.
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Jamika soon realized the value of bringing things back to life and putting it back in place as an asset. A chaise that was pulled from off the street became the catalyst for what we know today as Teena’s Legacy, a not-for-profit organization located in Lake County.
The CreatINg Places project campaign sought to raise $5,000, matched by another $5,000 from IHCDA, to begin the process of advocating and educating through upholstery. Where fabric seemed worn out and not worth saving, there was a vision of opportunity and growth. The project, Bringing Our Seats to the Table, focusing on re-upholstering old furniture while promoting economic growth, practical tools, life skills and self-discovery. This is truly a widespread community effort that has forged connections with a wide range of people, regardless of age, gender, or cultural background. Black History is embraced in a way that allows all to be vessels of a common message of unity while remembering and honoring the path that has been paved by our ancestors.
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On Saturday, February 3, 2024, the Bringing Our Seats to the Table exhibit, specifically titled Blooming Out of Our Trauma, will be featured at the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts located in the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District in Gary, Indiana. The concept behind it is capturing stories from different era in Black History dating from the 1400s to today. Through re-upholstered chairs and unique art displays, you will learn about the birth of slavery, the Atlantic Slave Trade, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Riders and more.
Be on the lookout for a more detailed story in an upcoming issue of IHCDA…the Magazine.
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Point-In-Time Count
Last week Indiana’s annual statewide homeless census, or Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, took place through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, service providers, street outreach teams, IHCDA staff, and other dedicated Hoosiers. The Indiana Balance of State Continuum of Care and IHCDA want to thank those dedicated individuals who crisscrossed the state to ensure that some of our most vulnerable residents were counted and assisted when possible.Â
The results will be published in July, after the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Team analyzes the data and submits it to HUD for approval. For historical results and data on the PIT Count, as well other available data, please visit the HMIS Data Portal.Â
The East Chicago Police Department participated for the first time in the count. In this picture they were discussing the locations they were going to canvas to then meet at the Salvation Army in East Chicago.
Abby Johnson, NWICCA, is giving volunteers information on how to complete the survey. There were over 40 volunteers who met at the Calumet center in Gary to get direction from Abby and go to the communities to do the count.
Volunteers from the Veterans Administration Department load their car with care packages, clothes, and other donations for people experiencing homelessness.
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