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The TRUSTWORKERS Exhibit in a nutshell:
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chws on the role of trust in their daily work:
Why Focus on Trust?
Trust is one of the defining issues of our time. It is the invisible, yet sturdy stuff of which our social lives are made, and it is at the core of our most intimate relationships. Trust is also vital in shaping how citizens interact with public institutions, scientific knowledge, medical expertise, hospitals, and doctors. During the pandemic, we have heard a lot about a mistrust–in science, in medicine, in vaccines, in government. But trust is more important to figure out than mistrust. We will never get our hands around the problem of mistrust if we do not first ask ourselves: What and who makes it possible for us to trust? Who weaves this invisible and sturdy web and how? With this exhibit, we begin a conversation about Trust Workers: those whose business it is to build trust, and who can help restore it. We invite you to take a tour of the photovoice stories of Community Health Workers (CHWs)—the pandemic’s unsung heroes and society’s Trust Workers, for whom trust is written into their job description. Our exhibit explores three main themes: What is trust in the eyes of CHWs, who are trusted in their communities and whose everyday work depends on it? How do CHWs obtain and repair trust when it is absent or lost? And how do CHWs use trust to improve the health of the communities they serve and represent?
What are trust workers?
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are the artists, creators, and main protagonists of our collection. They occupy a critical position as Trust Workers in our city’s public health system. CHWs are the bridges that help connect hospitals, health providers, doctors, city and social welfare agencies with NYC’s diverse communities. Their jobs have many sides. CHWs communicate medical knowledge in culturally resonant ways, they provide access to vital social services, and they turn an empathetic ear towards their community’s needs. Our photovoice stories take you on a journey into how CHWs meet the daily challenges of improving their clients’ and patients’ wellbeing. Their personal accounts shine a bright light on the day-to-day encounters and relationships shaping how CHWs obtain, repair, and build trust. With this exhibit, we celebrate the important work of CHWs at the frontlines of the city’s public health system.
What is photovoice?
Artists and scholars use the photovoice method in community-based projects to create dialog and spur action on social issues. Our photovoice essays offer intimate glimpses into the everyday lives of Community Health Workers (CHWs). They combine visual and written material into vivid testimonials about the challenges CHWs face as they provide local communities with essential healthcare services and resources. This exhibit aims to raise awareness about many of the unseen issues plaguing the public health system in NYC and invites reflection on how medical care can be improved. CHWs who participated in this collection work for the Bronx Community Health Network (BCHN), New York Presbyterian, Health People, Make The Road New York, Riseboro, and many other organizations across NYC. We thank all CHWs and our partners for their contributions to this project: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Forum at Columbia University, The COMMUNITY Center, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Hunter College School of Nursing, Weil Cornell CTSC, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
