VOICES OF ROSEDALE
Voices of Rosedale is a project founded by two Rosedale residents, Leigh Davis and Necothia “Nikki” Bowens-Robinson.
Their website describes the project: ” [It] Begun when two neighbors, a 4th generation resident documentary filmmaker Necothia Bowens-Robinson and a newcomer, artist Leigh Davis, connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, this project is committed to preserving and sharing Rosedale’s past and present. It is a tribute for a neighborhood in transition.”
The Goethe Institute describes the project as “a collaborative oral history project that works to recognize, celebrate, and reflect the people of Rosedale, a small and vibrant neighborhood in northeastern D.C. We often think of archives as hidden sites where history and memory are buried, rarely to be seen or felt again. This project brings private experiences into the public sphere, and makes visible the living history of a neighborhood in transition and the people who have lived there for decades.”
On April 22, 2023, the Humanities Truck co-hosted a community gathering with Voices of Rosedale at the Rosedale Recreation Center and Library. Inside the truck Davis and Bowens-Robinson conducted oral histories, and outside we worked with community members to construct a neighborhood portrait on the side of the truck. Over the course of the morning and afternoon, we crafted a collage that reflects the spirit and community of Rosedale.
This webpage highlights interviews and photos from the event.
