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“The variety of people involved in PTI is brilliant, it’s a truly inclusive project. Similarly, the diversity of content is another strong feature; the broad range of stories is key to challenging the dominant and false narrative of poverty porn we see in sections of the media.
I think that using stories and creativity to talk differently about poverty can be an effective tool to inspire others to think differently, though it may be difficult to quantify this in the short term due to the structural nature of inequality and the prevalent stigma this has caused among society at large. ”
Paul Sng, filmmaker
Paul Sng is a filmmaker and writer of dual British and Singaporean heritage whose work focuses on people who challenge the status quo.
His Invisible Britain: Portraits of Hope and Resilience is out now.
Jessica Rae Huber is a film and television composer who has written music for projects such as The Walking Dead, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Outlander, Black Sails, 60 Days In, and Constantine. She is an in-demand independent film composer and is frequently recruited to write additional music for other composers.
Jessica is one of the original composers chosen for The Future Is Female: a Concert for Women in Film where she conducted her original piece for a sold-out crowd.
“I appreciate Project Twist-It’s story-based approach to changing the poverty narrative. It brings the issues closer to home rather than seeing those who suffer in poverty as a number or statistic. I am proud to be a part of something that humanizes the problem of poverty and challenges us all to live with more compassion and understanding.”
Chuck Collins is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org. He is the author of a number of books including Born on First Base.
“Project Twist-It is a terrific toolbox for narrative change. It lifts up the power of narrative in our daily lives and habits of mind. And it also uses a wide range of creative tools – storytelling, creative communications, artistic practice – to turn and twist our flaccid assumptions.” ”
Jonathan Van Ness is the grooming expert on the Netflix series Queer Eye.
Mary O’Hara is a producer on Jonathan’s podcast Getting Curious.
Photo by Cntrl+Alt+Delete.
“One of my favorite colleagues @maryohara1 has an amazing new project @ProjectTwistIT check it out.”
Holly Walsh is an award-winning comedian and writer. She recently co-wrote the BBC sitcom Motherland with Sharon Horgan, Graham Linehan and Helen Linehan.
“I’m thrilled to be involved in Project Twist-It. Each contribution to the website has been both inspiring and challenging in equal measure. Time and time again, at their heart is a simple human story. It’s this relatability that’s helped me question my own assumptions about poverty, and filled me with hope that things can change. ”
“I’ve been involved with this a little bit. It’s super worth your time.
It might not seem like a revolutionary thing, but people who have experienced poverty actually do have ideas about poverty. We’re not just a big lump of afflicted humanity for others to pontificate about.”
Follow Mark on Twitter at @MarkOneinFour
“For people looking to respond to December’s UN report on extreme poverty in the UK check out @ProjectTwistIT who are trying to address stigma and discrimination through stories of people living in poverty.”
“Project Twist-It is so important because it challenges the stigma of poverty by fostering both knowledge and understanding of others.
Communication matters when talking about poverty and no more so than the brilliant Project Twist-It who work tirelessly in order for it not to be defined by people who are prejudiced.
It is an open door where everyone is invited to walk through and talk about their experience of poverty, a safe room where they can tell their stories with dignity and positivity.”
Natasha Carthew, author of Winter Damage, The Light That Gets Lost, Only the Ocean and All Rivers Run Free.
“If you are interested in combating #poverty and #inequality, check this amazing project (congratulations @maryohara1!)”
Stephen Hinshaw is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was Department Chair from 2004-2011. He is also Professor of Psychiatry and Vice-Chair for Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco.
His work focuses on developmental psychopathology, clinical interventions with children and adolescents (particularly mechanisms underlying therapeutic change), and mental illness stigma.
“Poor people are lazy; they drain national resources. Why should we care about people on the dole? If only everyone were fully productive, we wouldn't need so many poverty-related services.
These are far-too-common beliefs and attitudes, whether overtly expressed or not. PTI, under the brilliant and dedicated leadership of Mary O'Hara, challenges these prevalent beliefs by engaging the populace in real narratives of real people, effectively humanizing the entire issue.
O'Hara's interviewing, writing, and communication skills need to be heard and seen, far and wide!”
“It was a huge honour to be invited to Project Twist-It. Poverty is becoming an increasing problem in the UK and it’s particularly visible here in the North. So helping raise awareness of it through spoken word felt like a very proud moment for me and by the end I think we could all feel that something big and worthwhile had started.”
“I think this is great! People especially in the US and UK have quite a distorted idea of poverty, and how people end up in poverty so to challenge this narrative is so important and urgent!
I love the diverse mediums you use to talk about poverty – also using such a great group of young people. Especially getting young people involved in shaping that narrative is amazing in that this is when all these stereotypes form.
Perhaps you could get even younger children involved? Primary school children. Work with teachers in finding out how this project could go into other schools.”
This is a really interesting and necessary initiative. Looking forward to what comes out next! #projecttwistit – Kwame Boateng @KwameBoateng_
@ProjectTwistIT developed by the genius that is @maryohara1 challenges the stigma of poverty through the stories of people with lived experience, elevating their voices and experiences – definitely worth a follow! – Niamh Eastwood @niamhrelease
Feedback: Please let us know what you think about Project Twist-It