"Library Shelves" by Nicholas: "This is one of many bookshelves [in the library] without any books... makes it hard to study." (link)Empowering students through documentary photography to end injustices within their schools
"My stomach has been hijacked by corporate America...at school . Nutrition contained - zero."
Charlie's analysis of the vending machine at her Austin, Texas school is frank and unforgiving. Her photo of the machine (seen here) captures this monster in the flesh, Doritos, Cheetos, Funyuns et al with the eerie glow of a phantom.
Charlie has been involved with Austin Voices for Education and Youth which works with the Washington, DC-based non-profit Critical Exposure. Critical Exposure combines journalism, art, and community organizing by arming students around the country with the cameras and training to capture "the best and worst" within their school systems. The organization teams up with afterschool programs and other youth organizations, teaching students some basics of documentary photography and arming them with the tools to practice it in their schools.
Some images are indeed hopeful, including photos of favorite faculty (here, here, and here), shots of cheerleading practice (here) and a display of student artwork (here). Most, however, are sobering, from Andy of Austin's bathroom stalls without doors (here) to Alexis from Washington, D.C.'s broken auditorium chairs (here) to Fatimah of Albequerque's symbolic "Broken Fence" (here).
Co-founders Adam Levner and Heather Riemann both had backgrounds in education, Levner as an educator and Riemann as a Department of Education policy analyst. Both were frustrated by the lack of understanding in issues surrounding public schools.
"People's eyes tended to glaze over when you started to talk about those subjects," says Levner, "both the general public and elected officials."
Using their savvy in education and their mutual interest in photography, the two started Critical Exposure in 2004.
"We recognized it would be really powerful to take photos and show exactly what was there," Levner explains, "and then we realized that the people who should be taking those photographs were the young people themselves, since they spend time in the schools everyday and know how those disparities affect them."
The photos are displayed in galleries, coffee shops, and other public places as a means of raising awareness. Students then research the issues captured in their photographs and even meet with public officials, using the photos and stories of their own experiences in hearings or in displays at government buildings. The ultimate goal is to push changes in policy that improve their schools.
"I think it's very intimidating for anyone and particularly for young people to approach an elected official," says Levner. "Photographs provide a very concrete entry into conversation."
Currently, Critical Exposure is working with groups in New Orleans to document the conditions of schools after Hurricane Katrina. Students wrote a Student Bill of Rights, enumerating ten things they felt were necessary to the success of their education. Most bluntly, the students hope for an environment "where students don't feel like they are in jail." From here, students will decide what specific issues to focus on, research solutions, and develop their own campaign to engage people in power to support their change.
"We hope that students from multiple youth groups across the city will work together to build the necessary public demand and political will to implement policy solutions that lead to better schools for all students in New Orleans," says Riemann.
Critical Exposure has also worked with teams in Austin, Albuquerque, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Current projects document the gamut of issues in schools, from the experiences of homeless youth and teen parents to the causes of drop-out rates.
"The most rewarding part of this work is being able to empower youth to speak for themselves," says Riemann. "[One] challenge is getting adults to actually take the time to listen to what the youth have to say, though once they do they are impressed and understand the value of getting youth perspective."
"It feels good to be heard," says Ian of Baltimore, "It feels good to have an outlet and hit the real world with my voice and my experience and to have that affect the future."
To act, visit criticalexposure.org