The Washington County Housing Authority board of directors on Jan. 7 heard a presentation on a photo-and-writing project created by residents of Terrace Glen, a 114-unit Metro bond-funded affordable housing community in Tigard; the resulting exhibit will be on display at the Washington County Public Services Building in Hillsboro from Jan. 15 through Feb. 14.

Board members heard that the community project was run by Metro in partnership with Engage Northwest and Housing Services. The six-week workshop, led by artist and Portland State professor Emily Fitzgerald, used 35-millimeter film photography and written reflections to explore "what home means" and was attended by nine Terrace Glen participants of different ages and backgrounds, including one family with an 8-year-old and three older sisters who live together.

Laura Speidel, executive director of Engage Northwest, told the board the workshop combined black-and-white and color film lessons, group discussion and writing exercises to help residents form connections and reflect on home and belonging. She said several participants are first- or second-generation immigrants from Afghanistan, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Speidel read passages from participant writings, including text by Jasmine Warner describing the move from New York and the time it took to feel at home in Oregon. Excerpted in the presentation, Warner wrote that "the photo voice class was difficult to do at first as a transplant from New York" but that it "helped me get to know my neighbors and connect with them and made Terrace Glen feel like home." Speidel said Warner could not attend the meeting because of travel delays but asked the board to see the exhibit.

County staff described Terrace Glen as a mixed, intergenerational development of one- to four-bedroom units completed in spring 2023. The developer team named in the presentation included Related Northwest (developer), Quantum Residential (property manager), C2K (architect) and Walsh Construction (general contractor). Partners listed included Engage Northwest and Home Plate Youth Services; the project includes three permanent supportive housing units designated for homeless youth, staff said.

Directors commended the art project on its role in community-building. Director Schneider called the work "part of the fabric of life," and Director Savaro said the Metro partnership offered a model for regional collaboration to support resident engagement beyond practical services such as case management.

The exhibit of resident photographs and writing will be available for public viewing at the Washington County Public Services Building, Jan. 15'Feb. 14. County staff encouraged commissioners and the public to visit and see participants' images and writings.

Details provided at the presentation were drawn from the Housing Authority briefing and resident writings shared by Engage Northwest.