Stephen J. Farley, Class of 1985

So much of community depends on the finding and telling of stories. This you have helped the community of Tucson to do in innovative ways. It began with your project, Regina, helping low-income teenagers explore the history of their neighborhoods. In designing the book that resulted, you learned that roving photographers had shot pictures of everyday Tucsonans going about their lives through the middle decades of the twentieth century. After soliciting more than two hundred of these photographs from people’s albums and attics, you, Steve, transformed fourteen of them into a powerful work of public art. Enlarged to a height of eighteen feet, they now grace—all four thousand square feet of them—the eastern entrance to downtown. The result has been a whole new feel to the area and to the community, which now sees itself and its history larger than life. Rarely does public art earn such popular and critical acclaim, with press reports saying the murals “confirm beautifully how strong roadside art can touch and unify a community” and show “the power of great urban art to start stories and summon up tradition and pride.” The book of photos that could not make it into the murals sold so well that the proceeds helped found Voices: Community Stories Past & Present, the non profit that you, Regina, run to train more low income youth to document local history by pairing them with mentors. The goal is to improve literacy, teach job skills, and encourage kids to pursue higher education, while preserving the memories of a city. Participants now in college and medical school credit Voices with building the skills and confidence that got them there. Their lives, and the life of their community, are forever deeper and stronger because of you both. It is not surprising, then, that foundations and even the federal government are now asking you to help spread this important work across the country. In recognition of your distinguished achievement in community building, Williams College is proud to honor you with its Bicentennial Medal.   Stephen J. Farley ’85 and Regina A. Kelly ’86