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.
Headquarters: DC-Ward 1
Where They Operate: DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 5; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8
Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24)
Ethnic Groups Served: African American; Latino/Hispanic
Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Men/Boys; Women/Girls; Students; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members
Schools They Work In: Cardozo Senior High School; Anacostia Senior High School ; Next Step Public Charter School ; Washington Metropolitan High School; Luke C. Moore Academy
Awards & Recognition
Catalogue for Philanthropy 2009-2010 and 2013-2014
Winner of the 2013 Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education
Featured by BBC News and Huffington Post in 2015
Washington Post front page in 2013
Lehrman Impact Award Finalist 2010
Finalist for PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Awards 2010
Recognized as one of the Top-Rated Nonprofits in Education by GreatNonprofits 2010
Featured in the National Youth Employment Coalition’s report, Building Roads to Success: Key Considerations for Communities and States Reconnecting Youth to Education
Winner, GlobalGiving U.S. Open Challenge 2009
Grand Prize Winner, Ben & Jerry's "It's a Flipped Out World"
Press
- Students Improve Education Infrastructure, One Photo at a Time
Wed Jun 8 2011, DCist
Some of the students actually care and are demanding more from their school system.
- East Washington Life: Critical Exposure
Tue Mar 1 2011, East of the River Magazine
These photos are about the metal detectors, taken in the morning when students were coming into the school...
- East Washington Life: Nadia Rose, Critical Exposure
Tue Feb 1 2011, East of the River Magazine
This photo essay was created by Nadia Rose, a student at Luke C. Moore, during a program that she participated in with Critical Exposure.
- Student Photographers Put Education, Policy Issues into Focus
Wed May 12 2010, Politics Daily
Thanks to Adam Levner and Heather Rieman, more than 800 middle and high school students have developed an eye for photography and advocacy.
- Citizen Alumni Heather Rieman and Adam Levner Give Issues of School Funding Critical Exposure
Tue Nov 3 2009, The Active Citizen Newsletter
Tufts University's newsletter chronicles the founding and accomplishments of Critical Exposure.
Budget (FY2016)
- $3 million or higher
- $1 million to $3 million
- The current budget for Critical Exposure is: $500k to $1 million
- Less than $500k
Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to
About the Catalogue for Philanthropy
Each year 120 expert reviewers evaluate applicants for distinction, merit, and impact. Each featured charity has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. The Catalogue for Philanthropy charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $40 million for charities across the Greater Washington region.
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