Throughlines: A View From…
Throughlines: A View From… (Throughlines) is an ongoing research and design initiative that amplifies location-specific immersion of local narratives, sites, and phenomena. PsP works in partnership with The Practice of Democracy, and other local partnerships to co-facilitate each local engagement.
Each experience engages participants with an up close and personal connection to specific topics and themes, content, and stories that provide a deeper awareness of local narratives and conditions. Content is shared using a variety of mediums, including a digital platform, walking tours, “living room” talks. As a highly interactive platform, Throughlines preserves, visualizes, and amplifies the evolving narratives of people and places. Through a range of research themes, topics, and digital tools, this platform serves as both a historical repository and a dynamic tool for understanding how the built and social environments have been shaped over time. Throughlines brings together archival materials, geographic data, and lived experiences, offering users an opportunity to explore, analyze, and contribute to the ever-changing story of communities.
By integrating historical documents, maps, official records, and personal narratives and artifacts, Throughlines provides a multi-layered perspective on social and spatial transformation. Whether examining past planning decisions, tracking demographic shifts, or sharing firsthand accounts of neighborhood change and experiences, this platform brings otherwise is not just recorded but actively engaged with. Throughlines is not just about collecting information—it is about drawing connections between past, present, and future to inform more just and equitable approaches to urban development and community storytelling.
Throughlines offers customized sections to visualize and narrate specific topics and themes, clients’ organizational work, or projects. Our current campaigns (late 2025 launch) is featuring two special topics: America's New Deal and Democracy is... America's New Deal explores the policies, practices, and investments of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Through provocative interrogation, participants explore the application and practice of democratic values and principles through the various initiatives and programs launched under the New Deal that radically transformed America.
Democracy is... marks the monumental occasion of the 250th anniversary of American democracy in 2026. This milestone isn't merely a historical marker; it serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring significance of democracy in shaping our collective future. Participants explore interactive prompts, thought-provoking discussions, and engaging activities, that delve into the core principles and values that underpin democracy- discovering the diverse voices and perspectives that have shaped democratic movements throughout history and continue to influence our political landscape today.