What motivated Women’s Way to use the "Today We Are Possible" photo exhibit as a medium to explore the intersection of gender and wealth in Philadelphia?

In year 1 of our Gender Wealth Index Research Project, we wanted to hear directly from women about their experiences with wealth accumulation and wealth extraction. We put the call out to do a series of interviews, where we got to know women in our community more intimately. The wisdom and insights we learned in these interviews were fascinating. Some of what previous research already confirmed — that having a college degree was positive for their economic well-being in the short term but very challenging in terms of debt in the long term. We also heard the nuance and complexity in their stories, that they had achieved traditional markers of success like buying a house or completing an advanced degree, but that didn’t allow for a sense of peace or a feeling of safety. We wanted to memorialize these insights and center these women through photography. We are grateful to our partners at the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Engagement for Women for helping to bring this exhibit to life.

How did the collaboration with photographer Gregory Wright and the inclusion of writings from Black feminist thinkers shape the exhibition's visual narratives? 

The idea was to have the quotes directly from the women themselves, representing their thoughts and feelings, rather than us summarizing or offering interpretation. We also wanted to put them in the context of feminist writers and thinkers, as a way to point to Black Feminist work as a praxis and to refer to this sense of time. Wealth is an experience that is built over time, through conscious decisions and actions by actors in a variety of systems. These decisions and actions allow for wealth to grow in individuals, families, and communities, or allows for wealth to be painstakingly extracted. Wealth is also often talked about in terms of legacy — what you want to leave for your loved ones over time, what will allow your future descendants to build on and invest. We placed the quotes in context with Black Feminist writers from our history as if to simulate or situate a conversation over time. What Tamara is talking about in her interview with us, June Jordan was urging the collective to reckon with, decades earlier. The wisdom was there, the wisdom continues, and this is a theme.

Greg was a dream to work with. He listened to hours of audio from the women in their interviews to understand their perspectives and used that to inform his approach to the work. He also was thoughtful and full of care as a collaborator. It was fun to work with someone who could hold the weight of the work we were aiming to do while also bringing levity to it. He would start the photography sessions with some deep breathing, or play some 80's R&B. Whatever was needed to bring safety and fun.

Can you share some key insights or surprising findings from the Gender Wealth Index research project that influenced the themes and narratives presented in the exhibition?

When we started the research project, I think we had some clues and previous research that indicated that we should take a deep dive into certain areas like education, employment, economics, etc. The research there and our own inquiry with our communities confirmed themes around closing a gender wealth gap that goes against popular prescriptions: simply getting a "well-paying" job is not enough to overcome a wealth gap. What was more interesting and insightful is that we learned more about what women desire to feel and experience through wealth. There's certainly much to say and do about economic security, and this is important, but they are also yearning for well-being for themselves, their families, and their communities. This was generative, for us, and it led us to reconsider the dimensions of wealth that we explore. 

When we define wealth in all of our work, we use a definition pioneered by our friends at the Maven Collaborative. We socialize this concept because it refers to more than material wealth. Subjective well-being pertains not only to an individual but also to a community. We are creating the conditions and context for [subjective well-being] to be met just as much as we are advocating for material wealth.

When wealth is accumulated:

• We live and retire with greater dignity, freedom, and peace of mind.

• Our communities are prosperous, resilient, and vibrant.

• Future generations have the freedom to dream big and become all they truly can be.

• We are healthy and know that our family, networks, and communities are healthy, spiritually whole, and contributing.

 When curating the exhibit, what were the reactions or responses you aimed to evoke from visitors, if any?

It's really gratifying to be able to host the exhibit in the Free Library of Philadelphia: a community space where all these important ideas and words are available to anyone and everyone. It’s important for us to have this conversation in spaces where everyday people are. The hope is that the idea of a gender wealth gap feels relevant and interesting to a wide cross-section of folks because this is actually a collective problem experienced acutely and distinctly by marginalized genders. In these stories, in these quotes, where do you see yourself? And going back to this idea of time, we have quotes from the past, words from our present, and ask, 'What future do we want to build together?'

Women’s Way 2023 research initiative highlighted five dimensions of wealth experience. What impact do you hope this approach will have on viewers' understanding of gender wealth?

Not everyone is going to read our 100-page research report from year 1 of our work! And while we are proud of that knowledge product, people access concepts and ideas in all sorts of ways. We hope this creative offering introduces folks to the idea of looking at wealth experiences more holistically and invites them to consider what they want to do, experience, feel, and create together in an abundant future.

“Today We Are Possible” is presented in partnership with WOMEN’S WAY, The Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Mayor’s Office of Engagement for Women. Visit the exhibit on display at the Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement now through April 30th, 2024.