I have known about the No Evil Project for several years and participated for the first time in 2018. I recently volunteered at an event with the No Evil Project and was impressed with the other volunteers. Troy is a great leader for this project, and his positive attitude toward everyone is infectious. This is an organization I am pleased to be associated with.
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I happened across the No Evil Project at the Juneteenth Festival in Worcester, MA and while I had no idea what it was about, the display booth caught my attention. What a pleasure it was to meet Troy, and talk about the project with him. I had my photos taken and posted to the website, and feel like I'm helping make the world a better place.
The diversity across the project is heartwarming and remarkable. People from all walks of life, all ages, races, backgrounds coming together and sharing their uniqueness, their contributions, and their happiness. What a wonderful place. Thank you, Troy!
The No Evil Project stands out as a shining beacon of hope when people are divided and give in to fear. When I discovered The No Evil Project, I knew immediately that I had to get involved. It has grown so much over the years--8,000 people photographed--and continues to evolve, from an community art project to after school programs and curricula and corporate cultural sensitivity programming.
The No Evil Project implanted itself into my heart when I first heard the concept at another community organizations executive meeting, in 2011. To me, it is a catalyst/tool that is bonding individuals as villagers, team, and family. From steerage to the captain’s table, we will do great things with those who we identify with, personally.
As a founding member, I continue to meet new individuals who have the same mindset as the project. All people are good. And when we find out that we share things, interests, and passions, we grow better together.
Most important, Troy is a true artist and takes the integrity of the project seriously. I love working with the entire team. Every board meeting, strategy session, and public event grants me the two great blessings of life - I get to learn and grow among other beautiful people.
Supporter from the get go, because these simple portraits remind us how to live better lives by being proud of who we are and living a life of inclusion.
"Reject Stereotypes, Accept People." That had been my mantra since I launched a photo campaign during university, remaining one of my proudest accomplishments. When I met Troy and a volunteer at the MA Tattoo Convention in 2016, it was a joy to find someone with a similar passion. Two years later, I am excited to lend my nonprofit expertise to the No Evil Project as a board member and work to grow the organization. It is an exciting period of growth for No Evil Project as we gain visibility, create programming for schools and other programs, and expand our audience. Especially in these dicey political and social times, it is refreshing to join together with so many people in the community around a common philosophy of individuality and goodwill.
The imagery of 480 individuals transferred to large banners hung on exhibit walls is a remarkable project of tolerance and understanding by telling a story with a great message.
The “No Evil Project” was on exhibit at the Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School in the Fall of 2016, at a time when America’s ethnic and diversity tensions grew. During this same time, there were others who perceived diversity as an opportunity to bring people together. Troy Thompson does just that through the ‘No Evil Project’ by challenging stereotypes and encouraging conversation around the topics of race, religion, politics, sexuality, disabilities and more.
The “No Evil Project” is a deep seated cultural project with many dimensions as it celebrates diversity through portrait photography. Individuals of all backgrounds label themselves with three descriptive words which speak to the viewer and foster a relationship though a message of how we are all different but yet very much alike. There is no better time than the present for a project and exhibit such as this!
I defined myself as a liberal, privileged, grandmother. My photo series is on a banner by the NEP booth. What a honor to have been chosen. What an honor to know Troy and watch him build his project and do shoots at organizations and schools and get funding for huge banner displays.
Over the years I have helped Troy in his photo booth encouraging people to have their photos taken and then define themselves. I often feel like an old time circus hustler encouraging people to come see the show. But it isn't a show, it is a serious effort to have people think about who they are and who others are and how they look and whether they are judged by looks or do the same to others.
The No Evil Project Inc is a wonderful organization striving to make one open their eyes and see people as who they really are and not categorized by stereotype. I had my "hear, see, speak" no evil photo taken in September of 2011 at Worcester's stART on the street. It was the second photo shoot for the project and now he has completed over 90. Troy has done this on his own time and with very little funding. Now is the time to change that.
To the future and may the project continue to grow.
I was on board with the No Evil Project from the beginning. Stereotypes do not provide for a healthy environment. Communities/people can become complacent with what they say, hear, and see on a daily basis. The NEP shows anyone from any background can do good. Maybe you see a person covered in tattoos and think biker gang. Then you see all of these people covered with tattoos in the project saying all of the good they have done and how they label themselves. Perhaps there is a connection...Oh, I'm a book worm too! You stop. You think. You realize everyone has commonalities and you shouldn't judge the proverbial book by it's cover. I 110% back the No Evil Project and will continue to do so.
I have had the privilege of working closely with the No Evil Project since its inception. I’ve volunteered at the booth on numerous occasions, and through conversations with people have learned so much about the lives of others. What’s even better, I’ve learned more about myself and the biases I carry. Being a part of this fantastic organization has helped me be a better me, and has shown me how much good there is in every individual.
I was fortunate enough to be located next to the No Evil Project at an outdoor festival the year they began this wonderful work. I was staffing a table for the Worcester Women's History Project (another terrific local non-profit) leading interactive craft activities with families, mostly those with children. I couldn't help but notice the positive energy generated by the activities in the next tent. All kinds of people were stopping and becoming deeply engaged - young and old, families and singles, even the outliers, the preppies and the punks and a good number of younger people that don't usually stop in the non-profit section. My curious volunteers soon investigated and were quickly enamored of the project and had all their photos taken, leading to an afternoon of discussion about the labels they had chosen for themselves and why. We already knew Troy as a kind and generous local web designer who had donated his services to get WWHP on the web and were thrilled to support this creative new addition to our cultural neighborhood. The WWHP went on to invite the No Evil Project to a steering committee meeting, since those who had missed the fun at the festival wanted to have their chance to choose labels and be part of the collection. Again, the conversation, and the relationships between these women, were deepened by the shared experience. We were proud to be included in one of the first exhibits of the No Evil Project in December of 2011, and continue to count the No Evil Project as a treasured friend in the cultural work of the city of Worcester.
http://www.wwhp.org/news-events/news-articles/2012/wwhp-women-no-evil-project-exhibit-hanover-theatre