What Is a Healthy Neighborhood? Youth Data Stories from the Bronx

Katie Toro

What contributes to a healthy neighborhood and why should people care?

Eighth-grade students from Santa Maria School were tasked with answering this question, embarking on a new journey into the world of photography using New York City neighborhood data as their guide. Combining art and math classes, the end result would be a personally curated photo series highlighting what students believe are the most important indicators of neighborhood health.

Before diving into data analysis, students were asked to take a walk around their neighborhood and photograph features that may contribute to or detract from their personal health. After this initial data collection activity, the class was introduced to DATA2GO.NYC, an online mapping tool that allows users to view city-wide data on various health indicators. Students used this tool to further explore their neighborhood and select a focus for their data stories. Before setting out on another neighborhood walk, students learned the basics of photography composition and created shot lists for their final series. The photos displayed here were proudly chosen by the artists themselves as a response to that initial question.

Throughout this project, students were given opportunities to reflect on their surroundings. Whether their final focus was on areas in need of improvement, or indications of a perfectly healthy neighborhood, this exhibition is a testament to the thoughtfulness and introspection of these young photographers.

Artist Bios

The Eighth Grade Class of Santa Maria School (Class of 2022)

Vernon Brown is an eighth grader at Santa Maria School. He enjoys playing basketball and being around his friends.

Katherine Chavarria is an eighth grader who loves food.

Sakura Gonzalez is a 14-year-old who takes pleasure in photography. She also loves to draw scenery and eye-catching things.

Daniel Gray is in the eighth grade and enjoys music and photography.

Heryel Hernandez-Rivera is an eighth grader at Santa Maria School. He enjoys drawing.

Angel Huitzil is an eighth grader who enjoys video games and hanging out with his friends and family.

Isabella Lebron is an eighth grader who loves the arts and playing instruments. She also loves drawing, anime, and singing.

Erin Marrero is an eighth grader at Santa Maria School. She likes listening to BTS and a lot of other K-pop groups.

James Martinez is in the eighth grade at Santa Maria School.

Camilla Mercedes is a 14-year-old girl who studies at Santa Maria School. She loves to watch horror films and mystery case documentaries.

Julissa Murillo is an eighth grader who enjoys music and cats.

Gabriel Ndreca really likes fishing. He really enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Misachi Pontier is an eighth-grade student from New York who loves to use her imaginative and creative skills to express her emotions and memories through art. She also likes to study new things such as astrology, and languages such as French to help her create this art.

Aidan Poonwassie is in the eighth grade and enjoys talking and music.

Sapna Ragnauth is an eighth grader who likes art and gardening.

Abigail Ramdeo is a 14-year-old who enjoys reading and traveling. She likes to experience and learn new things.

Kevin Santana is a 14-year-old boy from New York. He enjoys making art, playing soccer, and playing video games.

Sandya Sawh is a 14-year-old girl who finds art everywhere she goes. Art plays a big part in her life, whether it is music or simply looking outside.

David Schreiber is an eighth grader at Santa Maria School. He enjoys drawing and playing video games.

Katie Toro is a 14-year-old who is interested in all things that have to do with art. She believes that there is art everywhere that has yet to be discovered, and hopes to shed light on areas of art that have been over looked.

Organizations

Santa Maria School

Santa Maria School is located on Zerega Avenue in the beautiful Bronx, New York. A small Catholic school serving grades pre-K-8, we strive to create a supportive family-like atmosphere where students of all faiths can thrive in a safe and secure environment. Our curriculum uses a “whole child” approach to support academic, social, and emotional growth. In addition to the work completed in the classroom, Santa Maria students are taught the importance of serving their community and being a good citizen.

Art class at Santa Maria School is continually guided by the goal of exploring the “whys” and “hows” of art. Whether used as an expressive medium or an informational aid, students are encouraged to recognize the power of their work and celebrate all of their artistic achievements.
Photoville

Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.

In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.

By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.

Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.

For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
PhotoWings

We’re honored to continue our partnership with Photoville for our 7th consecutive year, and to celebrate Photoville’s 12th edition! Each year Photoville provides so many rich, unique, and diverse experiences in and around photography–PhotoWings is thrilled to help enrich this community as Education Partners.

Our mission is to highlight and help facilitate the power of photography to influence the world. We help photography to be better understood, created, utilized, seen, and saved. We are dedicated to utilizing the power of photography to further deep thinking, communication, and action.

The PhotoWings Outreach Program and our extensive media archive have myriad educational applications and possibilities, including projects from partners that cross disciplines, generations, and cultures. We also create toolkits/curricula for replication, adaptation and/or inspiration.

PhotoWings has partnered to document the Photoville Talks for the past five years, to expand the ways the global community can be a part of these important dialogues. Explore the collection of Photoville Talks today!

Be sure to check out all the Photoville Resources that have been supported in partnership with PhotoWings

And for more information about PhotoWings, you can visit http://photowings.org/