In our words, in our community is a collaborative, public arts and humanities exhibit created by Vermont Folklife and photographer Macaulay Lerman, in partnership with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, that amplifies the voices of our neighbors experiencing the complex dynamics of homelessness, food insecurity, and economic challenges. This exhibit is guided by direct input from a group of Vermonters and the social service workers who aim to address their daily needs.

The St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington was home to more than 13,000 children from 1854 to 1974. This is the story of these former orphans, now known as the Voices of St. Joseph, and their remarkable and enduring accomplishments.