Roanoke, Virginia – The Roanoke-based artist, Jane Gabrielle, is harnessing the power of art to draw attention to a significant social issue – students from Roanoke City Public Schools who are facing homelessness. Her initiative, titled “Heart Apples for Homeless Students,” seeks to represent and raise awareness of this pressing issue.
“Each sign you see in southeast right now signifies one of the 607 children in our school system who are currently without a stable home,” Gabrielle explained.
These signs, which are difficult to overlook, are strategically placed along the route leading back into the city from southeast Roanoke, towards Elm Avenue and the 581 ramps.
Gabrielle elaborated, “This initiative was born in 2020, amidst the campaign season. I was driven by the desire to create a visual representation of the sheer number of affected children, in hopes of arousing empathy and boosting charitable contributions.”
While the visibility of adult homelessness is a common sight, many residents remain unaware of the extent to which this issue permeates the lives of some of the youngest members of our community.
“To bring this issue to the forefront, we invited community members, ranging in age from four to 95, to assist in painting these signs. This participatory activity gradually heightened awareness of the severity of this predicament,” Gabrielle noted.
Douglas Jackson, Roanoke Arts and Culture coordinator, echoed Gabrielle’s sentiments, stating, “It’s widely acknowledged that young individuals are not accountable for securing their own housing. If they are experiencing homelessness, it is by no fault of their own.”
The overarching goal of this project is to amplify the visibility of this pressing issue, inspiring the community to engage and contribute to its resolution.
Jackson expanded on this mission, saying, “By uniting as a community, we can begin to make a difference. Visualizing the sheer number of individuals experiencing this issue, particularly as participants engage with the creation of these signs, is a powerful motivator. Art possesses the unique ability to forge connections and evoke empathy in a manner few other mediums can replicate.”
The signs, integral to the “Heart Apples for Homeless Students” project, will be displayed until the end of June. Subsequently, they will be relocated to the Roanoke community gardens in July.
