Monday - March 2, 2026 : Blog Reflection 1
In the past couple weeks, the classroom environment has provided a lot of technical tools and the framework I needed to enhance my work. The course material has shown me new perspectives on storytelling, helping me transition from a basic concept to a more nuanced narrative. Every lecture and discussion has felt like a building block, allowing me to approach my story with confidence and a clearer sense of direction.
I’ve shifted my focus toward research and outreach when it comes to my story. I’ve spent time diving into primary sources and academic databases to ensure my background is factually accurate. Beyond just reading, I’ve taken the initiative to reach out to my sources and individuals with first-hand experience related to the parking situation in Balboa. The research has been really helpful and provides me with unique insights that I never would have found in a textbook.
Sweeps Kill: Blog Reflection 2
Attending the screening circle on March 9th showed me a necessary contrast to the often clean-cut verbiage that reporting on homelessness usually includes. What resonated with me most was the intersection of personal narrative and systemic failure that David Stoesz and Marie Bouassi highlighted. Hearing the specific, localized struggles of the unhoused population in Seattle turned "homelessness" from a policy into a human crisis. The Q&A discussion also highlighted a vital point: the sweeps aren't just logistical moves by a city; they are traumatic disruptions that strip individuals of their last bits of stability and safety.
My understanding of unsheltered communities has been subtly shaped by mainstream media portrayals that often lean toward two extremes: the "dangerous nuisance" or the "invisible victim." News cycles frequently focus on the aesthetics of encampments or the perceived "threat" to property values, but rarely center the voices of those living in the tents. These portrayals often create a sense of "otherness," making it easier for myself and the public to support policies like sweeps. By failing to show the nuances of why people are unhoused, ranging from medical debt to systemic lack of affordable housing, the media often reinforces the stigma that homelessness is purely a result of individual moral failure.
This is where a comic like Sweeps Kill becomes a powerful tool for change. Unlike a standard news report, a comic book uses visual storytelling to foster immediate empathy, placing the reader directly into the shoes of someone navigating a sweep. It has the potential to humanize the "unhoused" in a way that policy papers cannot, potentially shifting public perception from one of fear to one of solidarity. If a significant portion of the voting public begins to view these individuals as neighbors rather than "blight," it creates a political environment where humane, housing-first policies can finally gain traction over aggressive displacement.
To cover this issue ethically, journalists must move beyond "parachute reporting" and instead build long-term relationships within these communities. Coverage should focus on the systemic roots of displacement such as the lack of tenant protections and the criminalization of poverty, rather than just the symptoms. By centering the expertise of those with lived experience, journalists can transform the narrative from one of "cleaning up streets" to one of upholding human rights.
March 25, 2026 - Sample Chart