VISTA cohort member Lucid is currently serving at Saint Anthony Park Community Council. In addition to his VISTA service, Lucid is also preparing to graduate with a master’s degree from Metro State University’s Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) program. Marking his upcoming graduation, Lucid recently completed his capstone project: an oral history of tenants in St. Paul.
The project consists of interviews with six St. Paul tenants totaling more than 12 hours. The stories shared form an oral history of life as a renter in St. Paul. Oral history is a method for collecting and archiving stories and experiences that are not typically recorded in dominant historical narratives.
For Lucid, these stories challenge the dominant narrative in which tenants are seen as a transitory population awaiting the fulfilment of the American Dream of home ownership. Rather, these stories illustrate the ways in which tenancy fosters community by creating neighbors. Renters face many challenges to be sure, but when treated with dignity and respect are able to create a sense of home and belonging that is too often viewed as the primary luxury of owning one’s house.
Lucid’s project is available to watch online here.
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