Testimonials

PARTNERS

"Critical Exposure has brought the reality of students' daily lives in dilapidated schools to the attention of policymakers, through their photographs and voices. The ACLU's efforts to dramatically increase funding for school renovations gets a strong boost from Critical Exposure and the students' vivid depiction of their schools."

"We've always known that the arts add greatly to the impact of any community conversation or action project but we did not have the expertise to see such a project through. Partnering with Critical Exposure allowed us to further develop the creative skills of the students and utilize those skills to provide greater context to the issues. The project benefited the students in acquiring a new skill and being able to see how they can use that skill throughout their lives to document the joy and pain they experience in their schools and communities."

PUBLIC OFFICIALS

"As a legislator from Baltimore City, I believe that the compelling photographs and testimony from students working with Critical Exposure were an important factor in convincing my colleagues to support increased funding for public schools. In fact we were able to triple the amount of money we received this year in Annapolis thanks in great part to their efforts."

"It was great to see the students' work and to talk with them. Their testimony, I believe, brought the issue of school facility condition home to the legislators with particular urgency."

STUDENTS

"The art exhibition in Annapolis was my first 'professional' photo experience, and to think that it was with Maryland senators and delegates is simply overwhelming. It feels good to get out into the big world with the big people and the big events. It feels good to be heard. 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 as it will affect more and more students. I'd seen [State Delegate] Catherine Pugh on a billboard that morning--I was showing her photographs of my school at 6:00 that evening. Thanks to Critical Exposure, I've been noticed, heard, and made a difference."

"I did not actually realize how bad my school really was until I took pictures of it. Once I realized the conditions of my school were so terrible, I knew I couldn't accept this and decided to do something about it. I think it was a great help to us with the School Modernization Act. I didn't think it would pass, but once I took the pictures, I was like, 'This is something I have to fight for.' I was mad that I ran out of film."

"I like that we were able to get the word out about the terrible school conditions and we actually had proof. [Now] the school board won't say, 'Well the kids aren't complaining or the kids don't care or how were we supposed to know."

"I liked the fact that we were able to take pictures and show them to adults that haven't been to [our schools] in a while. I learned that the conditions of our schools are very unsafe and that we deserve better learning space than this. [It's important to photograph school conditions] because lots of people don't know how the schools look, and most of the people that look at the pictures are shocked. If we didn't know about the [problems like] leaks, they would get worse. If I didn't notice, the board didn't notice."

"I feel that it [the documentary photography project] gave youth a voice and an opportunity to make a difference. I learned more about the schools' issues and that there are more people fighting to make a change. It is important for people to know what is going on in the schools behind the scenes. I feel that it was a great project. I look forward to expanding and continuing."