Being Seen is a photography and writing project conceived of by photographer and educator, Ann Rosen and writing teacher, Alice Braziller, to conduct workshops for women who are tenants of HousingPlus, an organization that provides community-based housing and comprehensive services to women, gender diverse people, and their families, to assist them in overcoming poverty, homelessness, addiction, trauma, and the effects of incarceration. Through these workshops, the women acquire writing, photography and art skills, as well as collaborate with the photographer to have their portrait taken, which reflects the way they want to be seen—with vitality and grace. Painting or drawing and taking photographs helps these women to express negative emotions too difficult to put into words thus boosting the morale and self-confidence of those who’ve struggled with trauma. The resulting exhibition presented toward the end of the project in a HousingPlus community room, of individual artworks, photographs and artist books combined with poetry and autobiographical stories challenge dominant views of feminine strength and foster compassion, thus giving these women renewed agency.