The Long Beach Central Area Association will sponsor a special exhibition entitled Through Our Eyes: The Young Black Men’s Photovoice Project at Houghton Park Community Center, 6301 Myrtle Ave. The one-day exhibit will be presented Saturday, Sept. 18, starting at 1pm with a discussion beginning at 2pm.
Through Our Eyes explores the factors affecting young black men’s transition to manhood through powerful photographs and riveting personal accounts. Digital cameras were given to a socio-economically diverse group of young black men living in Los Angeles, and they were asked to capture the elements that influence their development from boyhood to manhood. Twelve participants, aged 16 to 26, completed all phases of the project— a three-month period of photo taking, photo sorting, discussions, and theme/sub-theme development.
The project was envisioned by a 12-member community/academic advisory board with members from various family, health, arts, neighborhood, education, and social service organizations interested in addressing premature morbidity and mortality in black men in Los Angeles. This transitional age was thought to be important because it is considered a dangerous time for young black males, yet an interventional point to promote a safe and healthy life trajectory. The photovoice process is based on health promotion principles and theory from Paulo Freire’s work on education for critical consciousness, feminist theory, empowerment education, and a community-based approach to photography.
Long Beach Central Area Association President John Malveaux had seen the premiere presentation in Los Angeles and invited Dr. Nazleen Bharmal, principal investigator, to bring the project to Long Beach.
Project partners include: Ninth District Councilmember Steve Neal; Long Beach Parks Recreation and Marine; Long Beach Grip Project; NAACP- Long Beach Chapter; St. Mary Medical Center; and Felton Williams Ph.D., president of LBUSD Board of Education.
The exhibit and discussion are free and open to the public.
More Information
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