Jennifer's case involved not this core HOPE VI policy question, but a matter of collateral damage. Knoxville's planners had decided that post-demolition redevelopment would require additional land, and the city announced it was going to take and tear down a group of homes and several small African-American churches bordering on the public housing site. Local advocates saw considerable irony in the city's decision to evict an entire row of long-term owner-occupiers – all in the name of stable and liveable community. Despite substantial research, however, Legal Aid had failed to find any legal theory sufficient to save the women's homes.

By the time Jennifer arrived on the scene, although they had her do one final legal memo, the focus had basically shifted to winning acceptable substitute shelter. Like so many lawyers who represent poor people, the staff at Legal Aid had to think beyond law, putting to use whatever political, moral or other non-legal leverage they could muster. They suggested that Jennifer might help in this process by gathering oral histories of the people who were scheduled for eviction and then working with KLAS to find ways to deploy that information. When Jennifer told them of her budding interest in photography, they were excited, and soon her assignment expanded to include a photo essay in addition to the interviews.

Early in the semester, Bill Murrah, the community developer on staff at Legal Aid, arranged to take Jennifer over to the neighborhood and introduce her to the principals. It was soon clear that Jennifer had a winning way with these elderly clients, and a telling eye for the beauty in their faces and the well-tended dignity of their modest homes. When Bill saw the photographs Jennifer had made, he knew that KLAS had gained a powerful advocacy tool. He helped organize a high-profile event designed to persuade city officials that they should take seriously the matter of replacement housing.

What transpired was a strategic "celebration" of the lives of the homeowners and of their contributions to the community. Held at one of the churches slated for demolition, it featured a lavish cake, a lovely punchbowl, the homeowners and their friends and families, a reporter from the local newspaper, several city officials responsible for HOPE VI, and in the place of honor, a large stack of spiral-bound booklets featuring Jennifer's oral histories and photographic tribute.

Many of us continued to feel that the city's decision to take these homes was a misguided one.To us it reflected a misunderstanding of the relative contributions to community that bricks and mortar on the one hand, and rooted human beings on the other, are really capable of making. But in the end, the city did help find acceptable alternative housing, and Legal Aid assured us that Jennifer's contribution made an important difference in the outcome.

For Jennifer, the experience was an eye-opener. First, it revealed to her how much pleasure she took in photography, cementing her commitment to that medium and to her own development as an artist. Further, it expanded her notion (and that of her classmates as well) as to what effective poverty lawyering is all about. Meanwhile, as to the impact of Jennifer's project on her teacher, this web site itself is probably the best evidence. I have been hungry for more art in my courses ever since.

Search for Shelter image gallery

Project carried out: Fall 1998
Exhibit developed: Summer 2004