Tiara Maldonadod
Students in the Bronx Junior Photo League (BJPL), the Bronx Documentary Center’s (BDC) free documentary storytelling and college success program for 6th through 12th grade students, have been documenting social justice issues and community-based stories since 2013.
Location: Online
Presented by:
Supported by:
The 2020 Photoville Festival Education Month is proudly presented in partnership with PhotoWings with additional support by the Philip and Edith Leonian Foundation.
Featuring: Bronx Junior Photo League students Elisa Luna Cameron, Ana Carmona, Reynaldo Olivera,Pamela Rozon
Moderator: Fanta Diop
Students in the Bronx Junior Photo League (BJPL), the Bronx Documentary Center’s (BDC) free documentary storytelling and college success program for 6th through 12th grade students, have been documenting social justice issues and community-based stories since 2013. The BJPL–and the work the students make–is the heart of the BDC’s mission: to use community-based documentary practice and education to explore vital issues, stimulate critical thought, and drive social change.
In March 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the BDC made the decision to suspend all programs and move to remote learning. Our students, who are used to working in a program based on the ability to go outside and photograph in the community, quickly learned to turn their lens to the vulnerable space of their private lives. They created visual and written explorations of their experiences during this time, using photography as a tool of reflection and connection with themselves, their families, and their communities.
The Bronx Documentary Center (BDC) is a non-profit gallery and educational space. Through exhibitions, screenings, and public programming, we show the work of internationally-renowned and emerging photographers and filmmakers who are dealing with the themes that guide the BDC: justice, education, community-building, and positive social change. We also provide free education programs for middle and high school students as well as professional education workshops for historically underrepresented adult Bronx-based photographers that provide opportunities for professional development and skills training in photojournalism, filmmaking and documentary photography.
Our free after-school and summer documentary photography programs teach middle and high school students from the Bronx to use photography, writing, and research to explore social justice issues, preparing them for college and future careers. The program includes visits from internationally renowned photographers, field trips to major cultural institutions and media outlets, and opportunities for life-changing national and international travel. BDC Youth Photo League students and their families also participate in extensive college prep programming, which includes one-on-one counseling, financial aid workshops, and college tours. All materials are provided by the BDC.
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