Reflections from the Community: Stories of Resilience and Strength

The Remembering Together project has woven together the shared experiences of our community in Clackmannanshire, emphasising the resilience and strength that emerged in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the heart of this journey, the voices of local people carry stories of loss, survival, and eventual healing, reminding us all of the human capacity for resilience in times of crisis.

One particularly powerful reflection comes from Patricia T. B., a Clackmannanshire citizen, who beautifully captures the essence of what the project achieved:

“The Remembering Together project started with bringing people together to co-create a Covid arts memorial for Clackmannanshire...We are not single people in a group, but a force of community together developing our own interwoven paths as we step forwards.”

This sense of collective healing, where individuals unite their creative energies, speaks to how the arts became a medium for processing the emotional weight of the pandemic. People from all walks of life contributed to creating poetry, song, and artwork that reflected not only their grief but also their determination to move forward. Through creative expression, participants were able to tap into personal strength, transforming feelings of isolation into shared connections.

Psychologically, research shows that communities coming together during crises often experience an increased sense of collective resilience. According to Dr. George Bonanno, a clinical psychologist known for his work on trauma, “resilience is not a trait; it's a dynamic process.” This aligns with the experiences of the Clackmannanshire community—resilience wasn’t inherent but built through the act of coming together, listening, and creating.

This project highlighted the power of sharing personal stories as a way to foster hope. Resilience, in the words of Patricia and others, became more than just bouncing back; it was about moving forward with a renewed sense of belonging. Art, in all its forms, was the tool through which these personal stories were told, with each contribution strengthening the collective spirit.

As we look back, it becomes clear that the community didn’t just reflect on the past but used those reflections to plant seeds for a more connected, caring, and hopeful future. Clackmannanshire’s Covid Memorial isn’t simply an art project—it’s a symbol of how, even in adversity, people can rise, stronger and more unified than ever before.