Several years ago I passed by a wall that had a simple yet profound phrase that caught my eye: We All Live Here. Unimposing, in Helvetica-style font and all lowercase, but stopped me in my tracks and I took a photo. Without knowing its exact intention I began to consider all of the possibilities which, as it turns out, is how it’s meant to be: open to interpretation by the viewer.
I found it compelling that no particular group of people would be able to claim the phrase because it is inherently inclusive by using the word “all.” I thought about it off and on over the course of a few days, toggling between everything from the environmental aspect to human rights. I then began to carry its essence with me into facets of my work and everyday personal dynamics.
Years later, a friend of mine who is a teacher and knew I was working on a project spotlighting positive change-makers happened to have the creator of these murals in her school. She sent me a message and enthusiastically noted that I needed to get in touch with him as soon as possible. One cold-call-style email and phone conversation later, I met Rich Alapack. Rich came up with the phrase in 2015 and took it into the streets of Chicago to test people’s reactions. It was met with overwhelming positivity and has continued to grow ever since.
Follow the journey and get involved at www.wealllivehereproject.com
