April 12, 2001 — An unusual traveling postcard exhibit, part of a national documentary project featuring Eau Claire and 11 other community initiatives across the country, opened April 9, 2001, at the Eau Claire Print Building, Eau Claire Town Hall Municipal Complex, 3907 Ensor Avenue (intersection of North Main Street and Monticello Road). An opening reception for the exhibit, which will distribute up to 3 million free postcards during its two-year American tour, will be held on Thursday, April 12, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the Print Building.

The exhibit will close on April 27 and re-open on April 30 in the grand foyer of the Breed Leadership Center, Columbia College campus, 1301 Columbia College Drive, where it will remain until May 18. The exhibit includes an interactive kiosk where visitors can record their own stories of community involvement and hear the stories of residents from other places around the U.S.

The national documentary project Indivisible: Stories of American Community features original photographs and narrative voices from twelve diverse communities where people are addressing salient local issues and creating positive change-providing a firsthand look at grassroots democracy. Featured in Indivisible are the efforts by both black and white residents of Eau Claire, who have come together over the past 10-15 years to stabilize and revive their neighborhoods. Their biracial, faith-based initiatives, drawing from more than 70 churches and at least 30 neighborhood associations, formed two primary community groups: The Eau Claire Community Council and the Community of Shalom. Through local activism, residents have helped to restore property values, promote self-esteem, and advance political influence while collaborating to advance the common good.

Indivisible includes a major book, Local Heroes Changing America, with audio CD of local voices, a traveling museum exhibition, a website at www.indivisible.org as postcard exhibit, educational programming and public archives.

Indivisible is a project of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. For more information call 919-660-3654.