The Portal has been in New Haven at multiple points over the years with Yale University and the Yale University Art Gallery.
Yale University has leveraged Portals for a majorresearch initiative designed to understand community perspectives on policing in the U.S. portals were placed in cities with high rates of incarceration and police-community interaction. The researcher was eliminated from the conversation, and individuals or small groups in different locations around the country were encouraged to step inside the portal and answer a simple prompt: “What do you think of the the police?” These conversations were recorded and anonymized and are being used for a range of research applications, including a forthcoming book. Read more on their research at [www.portalspolicingproject.com](http://www.portalspolicingproject.com).
It amazes me just how universal hip-hop has become. Here in America it was originally created as a means to express ourselves despite the forces oppressing us. Blacks had few ways to convey their thoughts publicly so we confused creativity with passion in hopes that the words in our hearts would be felt. Today I spoke with a man on the other side of the world who said that positive hip-hop is blooming where he lives in Afghanistan. It’s inspirational to say the least. I’m honored to be able to share my voice with the world. This portal is a gift, a treasure in time that I feel will one day be incredibly impacting! Javier S