ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NEW YORK, USA
100CAMERAS X ROOSEVELT ISLAND YOUTH CENTER
MADE POSSIBLE BY FRAMEBRIDGE
100cameras X RIYC is a part of a 8 class course that is custom designed by 100cameras to equip passionate creatives with the tools to empower youth in a community they care about with the opportunity to learn how to process their stories and create change. Pictured here are 100cameras students during the course. This program was made possible by Framebridge.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
100cameras X Roosevelt Island Youth Center took place in New York City, New York USA in partnership with the Roosevelt Island Youth Center (RIYC), an after-school and summer drop-in center, as part of the State of New York’s Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.
RIYC provides a safe and inclusive environment for youth to gather, socialize, and engage in activities. Through island collaborations and partnerships, the center is geared to serve as an outlet for youth to engage in recreational, educational, and artistic programming. The Youth Center is dedicated to creating access to high-quality programming, comprehensive services, and diverse experiences for island youth and teen residents and visitors. The Center promotes diverse programming and activities, empowering youth and teens through several club options such as sports and the arts, civic and leadership engagement activities, and service-learning opportunities. Through these outlets, the Center fosters an inclusive environment for endless opportunities for growth, character development, team building, ultimately preparing our youth for the real world.
As reflected on by the Center’s Assistant Director, Ana Medina, “We are proud of the diverse community which makes up the Youth Center as it is a snapshot of the community in which we serve that includes a mix of backgrounds, cultures, and socio-economic statuses. This may, at times, pose as a challenge connecting participants with one another, relating and understanding different experiences through programming such as discussing underlying challenges such as topics of single parent homes, poverty, and foster care.”
“Our vision for bringing the 100cameras program was to further provide our participants with a diverse enrichment program geared to encouraging imagination and community engagement through visual arts. Utilizing photography as a tool to process and tell their stories cultivated our participant’s imaginations seeing themselves as individuals, leaders, and ways they can impact their community.”
“This program also helped integrate our key social and emotional competencies such as self-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationship building into our program offerings,” continued Medina, “It opened doors for access to an enriching experience that can enhance participant's career awareness and provided for a deeper connection to Roosevelt Island's rich history by exploring the island through a photo lens, capturing the islands’ iconic landmarks, and the diverse community. In addition, it brought to light a new appreciation for the vast amount of open and green space on the island including the Roosevelt Island community garden, which is the largest community garden in New York City.”
“This program is something new that has never been offered to the community of Roosevelt island. It is important to allow participants to receive a wide range of activities including something of this magnitude as it can inspire our youth to continue to pursue photography. It will help teach them how to utilize techniques to strengthen their creative lens. ”
MEET THE STUDENTS
ABOUT THE PROGRAM LEADER
Zaire Williams is a Youth and teen counselor first but has a seven year background in videography and photography. Teaching the mechanics and techniques was nothing new to him, however the storytelling devices taught him a lot more than he had consciously thought about. He hopes to one day be able to apply all that he has learned in this photography program to his counselor career and video creating passion.
STUDENT IMAGE GALLERY
Follow us on social media to see images from the field as captured by the 100cameras X RIYC team and the student photographers. Thank you to Framebridge for making this program possible!