• Wednesday: 1-5 pm
• Thursday: 10 am-3:30 pm, 6:30-9 pm
• Friday: 10 am-6 pm
• Saturday:10 am- 1 pm
• Sunday: 1:30-6 pm

Recent public policy graduate Rachel Kriese, and political science senior Ella Lynch, whose interning for End Gun Violence in Michigan, helped Manuel set up the exhibit. Prior to the exhibit, East Lansing Public Library’s Angelo Moreno, Rheanna Reeder and Zandra Blake held a soul box making workshop at the library Manuel said.

Speakers for the event throughout the evening included Micheal Mckissic, whose family founded the Mikey 23 Foundation in Lansing after losing his son to gun violence at the age of 23, Saylor Reinders, a social relations and policy senior and co-lead of Students Demand Action, a national movement of students who ais committed to ending gun violence in the U.S., and Miranda Hilton, a mom part of the community. BJ's Brewhouse helped cater the event.

Manuel, who founded Sit-Down MSU, a gun safety awareness movement on campus, after the Feb. 13, 2023 campus shooting that killed three students and injured five, said becoming an activist was something she did not expect to do.

“It's something that I was able to really grasp a deeper understanding,” Manuel said. “Before the shooting, I wasn't particularly involved in any organizations. After the shooting, I almost felt like I was called to action. At first, it was really emotionally exhausting, but since I graduated I've had time for my own healing process to take place.”

Manuel said that being an activist is “incredibly rewarding” and is a fulfilling experience, but at times can be emotionally draining.

“It's up and down experience and some days I feel extremely exhausted but just because I'm exhausted doesn't mean I'm not hopeful,” Manuel said. “I absolutely love getting to know my community and connecting with like-minded individuals who share the same passions as me." 

Manuel said working with a community that shares a common goal, it broadens her perspective and deepens her understanding of gun violence, especially when meeting with families of victims of gun violence and survivors of domestic and community violence.

“It’s hard to feel satisfied with the activism because I was brought here under the worst circumstances,” Manuel said. “As much as I'm working to eradicate the issue of gun violence, when you see another shooting or another act of violence take place, it's really difficult to feel that we're moving forward." 

Describing the exhibit, Manuel said the project is part of a national exhibit where paper origami boxes are made in remembrance of a victim of gun violence. 

“We have about 3,000 boxes at the East Lansing Public Library from all over the country designed by family members, students, and community members all in a tribute to gun violence,” Manuel said.  

Manuel said each box represents the number of people shot and injured in Michigan in the last 13 months. The boxes representing Michigan were provided by Jennifer Shankie, a member of the IHM Sisters of Monroe, which had its own soul box exhibit in May 2023.

Describing the work as “artivism” and “craftivism,” Manuel said art can take many forms from visual art displayed to digital art and media.

“I believe that art has the potential to leave a lasting impression,” Manuel said. “A powerful piece of art can resonate with the community and inspire people.”

Through this, Manuel said this offers a different approach to healing for anyone who doesn’t have the energy to attend rallies.

“Creating art with a purpose provides a deep sense of fulfillment for me,” Manuel said. “I’m a very visual and demonstrative person. Not everyone in activism has the energy to go out to a rally or go to a protest. For some people, art has such a rich legacy and within this art through history has seen so many impacts on cultural change.”

Manuel said when it comes to art, it can challenge the norms of what people think activism is and can open up a space for new ideas and solutions while motivating people to take action in a way that is inspiring and serene.

“It amplifies voices not physically, but visually,” Manuel said. “Art is so versatile to where you can apply your meaning from what you take from an exhibit to so many things." 

Manuel said she’s at a point in her activism where she doesn’t have the energy to attend protests and rallies and wanted to create the exhibit as a way to help heal not only herself but the MSU community and the Greater Lansing area communities.

"You might not remember somebody’s words but you might remember the mural or a visual representation someone has put in front of you," Manuel said.

Manuel said her hope and goal for the exhibit is to bring healing to the community while inspire people to have a sense of belonging and foster an understanding of gun violence.

“I just want people to think of new perspectives on justice and I hope the exhibit sparks community dialogue and that our community to be engaged with itself,” Manuel said. “Even if it's like on a small scale, even if it's 20 people, engagement in an open dialogue about gun violence, I hope that we can inspire and empower and motivate people to contribute to positive change.” 

In her final thoughts, Manuel offers a piece of advice to those who are still healing and taking care of themselves.

“I hope to offer a space where people can come and heal but also a space where people can come and feel empowered,” Manuel said. “Turn your pain into passion and your passion into power in that power into a position. Whether that be a position of love or art in whatever makes you happy.”