I live in another state or country. Can I still participate in this project?

Yes! We welcome beloveds no matter where they are from!

How do you find the people included in this project?

We do not seek out families – we serve them. We use social media and word of mouth. This is a very emotional exhibit; it is very heavy on the heart and may not be for everyone. Therefore, the decision to participate needs to initiate from the beloved’s family. 

Can I volunteer?

Yes, please! It takes many hands to setup and breakdown the exhibits. It is a very personally humbling experience. We also welcome and encourage any and all groups (i.e. scouts, schools, town organizations, students, etc.) If community service hours are needed, we can sign off on the volunteer time spent with the project.

How can I bring The Black Poster Project to my community?

We present FULL or PARTIAL EXHIBITS & SCHOOL PROGRAMS in all types of facilities. If the location’s area can accommodate the project, and you would like to explore the possibility of having the exhibit visit your community or school, please reach out to us at theblackposterproject@gmail.com.

Please note there is a cost for any type of exhibit we offer.

Additionally, at all displays, we encourage community leaders, particularly Police, Fire, EMT and First Responders, school officials, and any other resources to be present.

Do you honor beloveds who have served in the military in any way?

Yes, we do. The military will always be featured in their own section. They are each marked with a number of special items for their branch of service: a medallion, personalized dog tags and USA flags. 

How large are the exhibits and where do they travel to?

Our PARTIAL EXHIBITS & SCHOOL PROGRAMS consist of approximately 200 posters. The beloveds are rotated at every partial exhibit or school program. These exhibits are typically set up in school gymnasiums, lining walls of hospitals or any large community indoor open room that can accommodate that number of posters.

Our FULL EXHIBITS consist of every poster (over 1,000) in the project. As you can imagine, these are very large exhibits. These exhibits are mostly out-of-state and have been set up in university student centers, union halls, large community rooms, large cathedrals such as Saint Patrick’s in NYC. For full exhibits, we will work with the requestor to find the best location in their area, as well as suggest methods of covering the cost.

Is there a cost involved?

Yes and No.

No … There is no cost to any family requesting a poster. We have been through enough losing our beloveds! We rely on outside sources to cover the cost of the posters.

Yes … There is a cost to book any exhibit. We offer partial exhibits and school programs at a fixed price. Full exhibits are priced according to length of travel, so cost is to be determined.

I’ve posted all of my beloved’s information on your social media asking to be included. Why don’t I see the poster in any of the exhibits?

We do not take any requests via posts on social media.

The only way to have a poster included is to complete all information required - no exceptions.

How long does it take to make a poster?

It can be a fairly extensive process to create each poster. It is not as simple as merely sending a picture and story. Every poster is created by Dee Gillen, and each one is handled with extreme care, lots of time, and an abundance of love. Hence, the reason why it is so very emotional attending an exhibit and standing before the beloveds. This is a joint effort, and work is required on both parts … yours & ours.

Once we receive all information needed, the work will begin. There may be questions asked or additional information requested. Proofs of the poster and storyboard will be provided to review, allow for changes, or approve. It is important to respond to all emails. Unanswered questions or approval not being confirmed will result in a hold on moving forward.

In other words, plan your timing accordingly. If you are wanting to be included in certain upcoming exhibits, you must leave a few weeks to work through the process.

How long will my loved one be included in the exhibits?  Will I receive my loved one’s poster after the exhibits have concluded at the end of the season?

This is an ongoing project. Once a beloved is entered into the project, their poster will be featured in our awareness endeavors.  All posters remain in the possession of our organization.

What happens if I want to exit the project?

Upon request, we will remove your beloved’s poster from the project as well as on our website’s Gallery of Angels. However, please be aware pictures or videos previously taken will not be removed and may continue to show your beloved’s poster. Additionally, if a family decides to remove their beloved from the project, their poster will be disassembled, and the materials will be reused. Pictures are strongly mounted and are not removed intact.

Are all the posters displayed in alphabetical order?

The people represented in this project are no longer with us because their lives were to some degree out of order.  We’ve always felt by keeping the posters in A-to-Z order, in some small loving gesture, it represents that their lives are now in order. There are various sections of every exhibit - Main, Friends & Family, Military & side stories.

The main section of the exhibit will be in alphabetical order. The Friends & Family section is not alphabetical as they are connected by their relationship (i.e. brothers, sisters, friends, etc.) The Military will always be in their own area. Around the outer areas will be various side stories which entail multiple posters combined to tell particular story (ie The Sibling Left Behind.)

How did you come up with the name The Black Poster Project?

Short Answer: Because this all began with printing beautiful pictures on a few black posterboards.

Long Answer: When the project started, there was no ‘formal’ name. The presentation would be referred to as ‘the black posters’ - but eventually it deserved a more distinctive name. The Black Poster Project.

Is this project affiliated in any way to religious or political entities?

No, it is not. However, we will display in any religious house of worship, as requested.

When I visit the exhibit, may I leave a memento beside a poster?

Yes, you may do so.  However, we cannot be responsible for returning same to you.  Also, due to the amount of time it takes to set up the exhibits, we will not be able to include it at other events.

Would it be possible to purchase a copy of one of the posters?

Unfortunately, we cannot offer this.  Due to the high cost involved, it is simply not possible for us to make extras. We do offer a mini version of any beloved’s poster currently in the project. Please visit our store for more details.

I lost my beloved to a situation other than an overdose. Can he/she be included in The Black Poster Project?

The beloveds in this project have all been lost to some form of substance use, meaning drugs or alcohol. This covers a large array of situations. As the project has grown, we have included other areas of mental health, such as suicide.

This is a personal choice for you to determine your beloved’s inclusion. As we know, the umbrella of mental health is quite large. When compromised, there are many various outcomes.

When a poster request is received, we do not ask for specific details. Rather, we rely on your judgment to decide if it would be an appropriate fit for your beloved.

If you are unsure, please reach out to us and we can discuss further.