First, capture your world; then, change it. That is the guiding principle of Critical Exposure, which empowers underserved DC youth through photography, writing, and community organizing. In semester- and year-long programs, 130 students learn the fundamentals of photography and then use their training to document the issues – the school-to-prison pipeline, school culture, relevant curricula – and work to convince decision-makers to implement solutions. Public exhibits inform and engage the community, while youth-led campaigns, public hearings, and meetings with legislators teach civic engagement and forge connections between those who make policy and those who profoundly feel its day-to-day effects. Visits from professional photographers also encourage students to see photography as a career – and a life-long outlet for self-expression. The union between art and policy creates a sense of empowerment that is otherwise in short supply for these young people. You can be part of the picture.
Learn More
