The Project · A Book & Digital Storytelling
A transformational nonfiction photography book and a living storytelling project honoring African American cancer survivors — deeply personal, and urgently needed.
The Project at a Glance
The Image of Grace pairs a printed photography book with an ongoing digital storytelling effort — portraits, first-person narratives, video, and resources — documenting what life after a cancer diagnosis truly looks like.
Crafted and photographed by Lisa Howard, a two-time cancer survivor, the project exists to encourage those currently battling cancer and to remind readers that a diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence. It is for patients, caregivers, families, and communities who need to see living, breathing examples of survival and strength reflected back to them — African American survivors from the Chicagoland area sharing their lived realities, challenges, and triumphs.
Inside the Project
Hover over each card to reveal what's inside.
Survivors across all cancer types, photographed by Lisa, with deliberate representation of underrepresented communities and the stage 4 experience.
Raw, honest narratives with pull quotes and educational sidebars — drawn from each survivor's own words and shared with their consent.
Video testimonials and extended interviews, linked throughout the book via QR codes.
Screening guidance, financial assistance, nutrition, emotional support, and clinical trial navigation — the needs survivors named.
Why This Project
Source: Image of Grace survivor surveys (n = 36) and focus group, December 2024 – May 2026.
Grace Notes
A living guestbook. Add your words to the wall — survivors, caregivers, and loved ones leaving a note of grace for the next person who needs it.
Notes flip through in a carousel — new additions appear first, so the wall stays easy to read no matter how many people share.
