On Topic: Jose Muniain’s “American Avenue” (Childhood Homelessness)

The second program in our new On Topic series focuses on the crisis of childhood homelessness and the ways housing instability prevents children from receiving a formal education. 

This program features a screening of not one, but two short photo documentaries based on the work of documentary and essay photographer Richard Sharum, directed and produced by Jose Muniain, who returns to City of Asylum after a moving screening of his film EXODUS: Mass Migration and the Ripple Effect in the Americas in 2023. 

The first film screening is Spina Americana, a long-term project that explores and documents a 100-mile-wide corridor of land and people running through the Central United States, between the borders of Mexico and Canada. The second screening features American Avenue, a long-term project documenting children who are currently homeless and attending or attempting to attend school.

This screening is followed by an audience Q&A and a discussion between Jose Muniain, Richard Sharum, and John Whigham, a community health worker specializing in street medicine who has faced many of the same challenges as the populations he serves.

About the Photographer:

Richard Sharum is an editorial and documentary photographer based in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York. Mainly focusing on socio-economic or social justice dilemmas concerning the human condition, his work has been regarded as in-depth, up-close, and personal. Selected exhibitions have taken place in Kyoto, Japan; São Paulo, Brazil; Reggio Emilia, Italy; as well as in New York, Boston, Chicago, and Dallas. His publications include those by LFI (Leica International), British Journal of Photography, LensCulture, The Atlantic, Texas Monthly, Publico (Portugal), El País (Spain), Observer (UK), The New York Times Lens Blog, B+W Photo Magazine, Huck Magazine, Glasstire, PATRON, Creative Review, among others. Recent appearances include: A Photographic Life Podcast with Grant Scott, ATO/Bridging the Divide Podcast, and an essay on “Truth in Photography” for their Winter 2023 issue.

About the Filmmaker:

Jose Muniain is originally from Bilbao, Spain. For the last 25 years, he has been based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he has worked as a director and producer on a range of national and international projects. Jose’s professional path in Europe and the US has fluctuated between commercial and independent projects, both of which have received international awards. For independent films, Jose looks for collaboration with artists who work in different mediums, seeking to be challenged both as a director and as a viewer. Jose is particularly drawn to projects that explore the creative process and focus on issues of social justice. In 2006, he produced and directed the feature-length conceptual documentary An Independent Portrait, which deals with the creative process and focuses on painter Felix de la Concha and filmmaker Robert Young. The documentary received the Audience Choice Award at the Three Rivers Film Festival. Jose has also received recognition for other short films, including #Cake (2017), which deals with the issues of eviction and mental health, and Garbage (2019), a film about race in the US, which was shown at the New York City Independent Film Festival and won awards at the Portland Short Festival, the Miami Independent Film Festival, the Cortada International Film Festival and BasqueBOK in Bilbao, Spain.

About the Moderator:

John Whigham is a dedicated Community Health Worker (CHW) specializing in street medicine at AHN’s Center for Inclusion Health. John has faced many of the same challenges as the populations he serves, including homelessness, food insecurity, and battling addiction. As a former alcoholic and addict, John Whigham draws on his lived experience to connect with individuals struggling with similar issues, providing a unique blend of empathy, authenticity, and hope. A former United States Marine, John learned the value of resilience, teamwork, and discipline—qualities that now define his approach to community health work. After leaving the military, he successfully ran his own personal training business before transitioning to CHW work without formal outreach experience. Driven by a deep desire to give back and help others navigate the barriers he once faced, he quickly excelled in his role, becoming known for his ability to build trust and offer holistic support to people in need. Today, John is a strong advocate for meeting people where they are, using his personal journey to inspire and empower others on their path to stability and recovery. His story is one of perseverance and transformation, making him an invaluable asset to the community and a powerful voice for those seeking change.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit Open Table or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.