In the wake of Hurricanes Idalia and Debby, the small rural community of Steinhatchee has shown incredible resilience. To honor this strength, a Florida State University (FSU) art professor has launched a community art initiative that brings together the town’s residents to share their stories and experiences.
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Led by Katie Kehoe, an assistant professor in FSU’s Department of Art, the project titled “Learning from Local Experience to Strengthen Disaster Resilience” is a collaborative effort with the Steinhatchee Community Projects Board. The initiative invites community members to express how they’ve been impacted by the hurricanes and what helped them overcome the challenges. To do this, three life rings have been placed at key locations around town, where residents can write about their experiences.
Professor Kehoe expressed her admiration for the stories that have been shared so far, saying, “It’s been wonderful to read the nominations that community members have put forth. They are a true testament to the strength of Steinhatchee. We can learn a lot from how friends and neighbors have come together here after two natural disasters. This is the real Florida.”
This project is part of a larger pilot research initiative that explores how rural communities recover from extreme weather events like hurricanes. It’s funded by the Office of Research’s Collaborative Collision program, which brings together researchers from various disciplines to work on common issues.
Jeff Beekman, chair of the Department of Art, highlighted the significance of this project, stating, “This initiative shows how art can unite communities and play a role in the healing process. When faculty from the Department of Art collaborate with other innovators across campus through programs like Collaborative Collision, amazing things happen.”
The project will culminate in a public tree planting and dedication event at Steinhatchee’s Community Center on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 2 to 5 p.m. During this event, all nominees will be recognized, and three individuals will be selected by the Steinhatchee Community Projects Board to have a tree planted in their honor.
The life rings, where community members can share their stories, are currently located at the Steinhatchee Post Office, Vystar Credit Union, and the American Legion. They will be available for contributions until Friday, Aug. 23.
Beth Hodges, FSU’s director of research development, expressed her excitement about the project, saying, “We are thrilled to see this Collaborative Collision project positively impact the Steinhatchee community. We know this area was just in the path of Hurricane Debby, and it’s important for our faculty to be involved in the response.”