“Through my Lens –
What its like to be a child in my neighborhood.”
Have you wondered what life today is like through the eyes of a child? Through my Lens will show the lives of 4th and 5th-grade students from Faison and Lincoln Elementary Schools through the lens of their own cameras to amplify their voices as key agents of change. Students will learn to use photography and Photovoice methods to creatively share their experiences and leverage their stories to advocate for change. Can you see that not far in the distance these young voices of the future will become key agents in transforming our communities? Picture it! The project will culminate with students presenting their work to their families and the broader community on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Timeline
FEBRUARY
Lesson 1 - SELF
Lesson 2 – Community
Lesson 3 – How I see myself
in my community
Lesson 4 – Camera Orientation
APRIL
Lesson 9 - Photo 5 and response/What do I like about my neighborhood?
Lesson 10 – Photo 6 and response/What do I want to see different in my neighborhood?
Lesson 11 – practice community showcase
FEBRUARY
Lessons 1-4
MARCH
Lessons 5-8
APRIL
Lessons 9-11
MAY
Lesson 12
& Community
Showcase Event
MARCH
Lesson 5 - Photo 1 and Response/What do I like about my childhood?
Lesson 6 – Photo 2 and Response/What do I want to see different about my childhood?
Lesson 7 – Photo 3 and Response/What would I show people about my neighborhood?
Lesson 8 – Photo 4 and Response/What is it like to be a child in my neighborhood?
MAY
Lesson 12 - practice community showcase
Community Showcase Event – Thursday, May 11, 2023
See what we've been up to
In January, 16 students participating in the TMC Photovoice project visited the August Wilson Center to see “OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys” exhibit. Emmai Alaquiva’s photography storytelling inspired TMC students to see themselves as artists.
Students participate as they take in Emmai Alaquiva’s "OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys” exhibit at the August Wilson Center in January
Through My Lens is truly a community-lead effort. Team members participate in a weekly debriefing and planning meeting to respond more directly to the issues and concerns emerging.
In January, 16 students participating in the TMC Photovoice project visited the August Wilson Center to see “OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys” exhibit. Emmai Alaquiva’s photography storytelling inspired TMC students to see themselves as artists.
A Community Effort – Thank You to our volunteer guides and experts
Eric Blackwell
Taylor Leeper
Kelli Organ
Dr. Khirsten Scott
Dr. Sheila Carter-Jones
Fran Quinlan
Mary Parish
Dr. Cynthia Wallace
India Harris
Talor Musil
Kristen Sabol
Dr. Michael Yonas
Through my Lens is part of The Maker’s Clubhouse’s three-pronged approach to violence prevention. We’re taking a two-generation approach to equip parents and students with to tools to speak about violence occurring in the neighborhoods where they live, learn, and play. In addition to Through My Lens, students enrolled in The Maker’s Clubhouse’s after-school programs at Faison and Lincoln elementaries are learning tools to manage emotions. Parents and caregivers are invited to participate in cohort-based learning Parenting While Black which is a group intervention that provides parents with tools to both support their children's healthy development and their own wellness.
This project is supported in part by a grant from the City of Pittsburgh’s Stop the Violence Office.