Remembering Dennis Larkin, Our Friend and Board Member
We’re deeply saddened by the passing of our Board Member and friend, Dennis Larkin.
Dennis wasn’t just part of Townspeople, he was part of our heart. His insight, courage, and creativity helped shape how we see our work and the people we serve.
A housing advocate with lived experience
Dennis was one of those rare leaders who could hold both professional expertise and personal experience in the same hand. He had led a recovery agency and knew how systems worked, but he also understood what it meant to navigate those systems from the other side. That mix made him an honest voice and a trusted compass for all of us. Whether he was helping design better programs, encouraging peers, or challenging assumptions, Dennis made every space better just by being in it.
Believing in the impact of making and experiencing art
He also reminded us that healing can take many forms. Through his nonprofit Art Outreach, Dennis created spaces where creativity and community could meet.
Here at Townspeople, he helped bring our Free Little Art Gallery to life, a small but mighty symbol of what he believed in: connection, joy, and expression for everyone.
In his memory, we’re filling the gallery with art.
Join Townspeople in remembering and celebrating what mattered to Dennis most—community
We invite you to create or donate a small piece and add it to the gallery as an offering of remembrance, gratitude, and hope.
Free Little Art Gallery
5804 Meade Ave.
San Diego, CA 92104
Dennis believed that art could heal, that advocacy could change systems, and that people with lived experience should always be centered in the work. We’ll miss his voice and his humor, but we’ll carry his spirit forward in every piece of art, every shared story, and every home we help open.
