Photographs of my community. A Photovoice project for the Fresno BHC (Building Healthy Communities) Initiative of The California Endowment.
Weapons
In this picture, I see a pocket knife and a pocket razor. There is also a toy gun. These weapons are controlling the picture. Almost anyone can get a hold of a gun even if it is a toy gun like in this picture, and almost anyone can use these weapons to attack others. These weapons, real or toy, exist because some people believe violence can be solved with death. We could do something about this by making sure people have the proper paperwork to have any of these weapons, and making sure they are only sold in one place.
Pumpkin Smashed
I see through a closed fence, an alley surrounded by weeds. There is a smashed pumpkin on the ground. The fence is chained together so only a hand can fit through. Alleys are where fights happen, and where people abuse drugs. The pumpkin means something. It’s as if we are the pumpkin, smashed. For example, when we walk down an alley we may get jumped or witness something else bad. A fence can make a young person feel trapped. We can keep the alleys clean to help stop the drug abuse and violence that happens there. We shouldn’t be afraid to seek help or call the authorities if we are in or if we see danger.
In 2006, over 25 youth began participating in weekly after-school writing workshops where they congregated in the hallway of a two-story building in West Fresno and learned the essentials of creating media and telling their stories. The group evolved over the next five years and is now proudly recognized as The kNOw Youth Media.
Through our program, we create opportunities for our youth participants, who in turn create long-term positive change in their communities. Our approach weaves youth development and youth media innovation to produce our biannual youth publication, multimedia projects, and community forums.
The kNOw began as a project of New America Media, which was the country’s first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018 The kNOw became a project of Youth Leadership Institute.
