The Sisters Project

Zelma Brown, Poet                               Meredith Stout, Photographer

The Sisters Project was conceived by two women  from very different backgrounds who came together to tell the story of  some of America's own women and children --and who became sisters in the process.

Meredith Stout began this journey when she arrived as a volunteer at the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center to do a photographic study of homeless women. Zelma Brown, formerly homeless herself, captures the plight of her sisters in poetry.

Thus was born  My Sister, My Sister, and our new DVD, Walk In My Shoes--our powerful presentations of photography, poetry, and dramatic reading that personalize the struggle of women and children in a disordered world.

The Shadow Voices

Our show would not exist without the Shadow Voices who speak the poetry of the women's lives

Monique Davis is the co-founder and Deputy Director of Emani House Inc., an innovative residential program in Vallejo and Benecia for women who suffer from dual and triple diagnoses. Monique has been with The Sisters Project since it began in 1998.

Dominique Deyto teaches sign language as a second language at Walden School in Berkeley and facilitates the after school day care program there. 

Marguerite Talley-Hughes teaches kindergarten in Berkeley and competes in ballroom dancing at the Gay Games.  She is the mother of two grown sons.

Diane Wilson continues her busy life as a probation officer and volunteer at the Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center, as well as pursuing her interests in theatre and the arts and grandmothering three young boys.

Pam Johnson, our “magic hands” ASL interpreter, holds down several non-profit jobs, including teaching, advocacy, and interpreting. She is also a musician and the mother of two teenage daughters.

Jennifer Hyypiö follows her heart to the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital in Walnut Creek, where she is a certified wildlife rehabilitator.  She also bands birds at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory.  She and her partner Yolanda’s daughter attends San Francisco State.

Vanessa A. Donaville operates her own financial consulting firm, raises a teenage son, and is active in the Cinnamongirl organization’s mentoring program.  This program is designed to empower and inspire girls of color; see: www.cinnamongirl.org.

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Not shown are Kimberley Ravenswood and Tracy Brown, both of whom have moved to Sacramento and have not been performing with the Sisters recently.  They have returned now as readers for our DVD, Walk In My Shoes, and we are excited to have them back

Our Mission

The Sisters Project has four goals:

• To educate the community about the struggle of women and children with homelessness.
• To change the stereotype of homelessness.
• To reconfirm the dedication of those employed in the helping professions.
• To give back a measure of dignity and self-esteem to members of the homeless community as they view and/or participate in the My Sister, My Sister performance.