Education Across the Americas Conference

Join us on April 4th at11:20am-12:35pm in Milbank Chapel at Teachers College, Columbia University (525 W. 120th Street New York, NY 10027)

POP students will be exhibiting and presenting their work at the Association for Latin American Students Education Across the Americas Conference for the 2nd year. This will be my third year exhibiting photographs and presenting at the conference. My images of my students in both Nicaragua and the Bronx are being used as ALAS promotional materials.

We are Panel 6: Voices of Immigrant Youth: Using New Media and Technologies as tools for Self-Expression and Identity-Making

Katie DelaVaughn and Pedagogy of Photography (POP) students will present an photographic installation piece and movie entitled Doors of Reflection: Identity and the Immigrant Experience.

For more information go to http://www.tc.edu/students/alas/

NEED Magazine

Last week I attended the National Community Service Learning Conference in Nashville, Tennessee and had the honor to present Pedagogy of Photography (POP) in thanks to a grant through the Peace Corps Fellows Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout the four days, it was amazing to meet so many organizations and energetic youth dedicated to service learning and I look forward to collaborating with many of the organizations.

POP students even got an assignment from NEED Magazine. NEED magazine creates exposure for humanitarian aid via an educational, artistic, visual narrative of human stories. NEED was intrigued how POP students educate themselves and others through photography and POP students are now NEED magazine youth correspondents.

En Foco Exhibit

A special thanks to Miriam Romais, Executive Director of En Foco for inviting Pedagogy of Photography (POP) students to the opening of Rojelio Reyes Rodriguez's photography exhibit, Mi Sangre at Pregones Theater.



What aspects of your culture would you want to portray? Would you focus on traditional culture, contemporary culture or both?

"I would like to portray how much unity we have together in cultural festivals. It striked me the most in traditional wear because I realize that I am losing myself in modern U.S. and not finding myself close to my roots." -Jenifer Mejia- 8th grade

"I would portray the struggles many of our people face everyday and the fact that we always stick together and help each other all the time. I would focus on traditional culture."-Christopher Mejia 8th grade

"I would like to take pictures of it's landscapes such as Ecuador's beach. I would do both."-Christina Aviles- 8th grade


"The family, the way we live together, the way we connected through emotion and physical attachments (living in the same yard)."-Vivia Thompson 8th grade

"I'd like to portray are braids with the ribbon of the Mexican flag. I think I'd focus on traditional culture because my whole family has kept it and I want it to continue."- Katya Urbano 8th grade

What comparisons can you make between the images of the elderly and the young?

"The young are very proud but they show that they not only are proud but that they've kept their culture strong". -Vivia Thompson- 8th grade

"They make the elderly seem young and the old seem younger." -Christina Aviles- 8th grade

"Both the elderly and young seem attached to their roots"- Jenifer Mejia 8th grade

"Both the young and elderly look proud to be taking these pictures. I can also see they are posed to show, to flash, to shine and I show you it's who I am and I'm proud." -Christopher Mejia- 8th grade

This exhibition focuses on portraiture to describe traditional Mexican culture. How do you think that affects the story that is being told? Do you think the story would change if there were other types of images included (city or landscapes, group images, candid moments)?

"It affects it by giving more details about the cultural story, Yes, it would change because it wouldn't show so much culture in it. People don't us the clothing or other stuff in everyday life."-Kayta Urbano 8th grade

"Yes, because everything in a picture affects the overall outcome of the message you are trying to send." -Vivia Thompson 8th grade

"The story being told is only by one person's eyes and not someone elses. I don't think it would change the story by putting more in it, landscape etc but actual improve the story and make it more real." Christopher Mejia- 8th grade

I think these photos affect the story because if there was other type of pictures besides Mexican culture then it wouldn't fit in."- Jenifer Mejia 8th grade.

After looking at the works, what do you think the photographer (Rojelio Reyes Rodriguez) does to define mexicanidad (Mexican heritage)?

"The photographer made the people dress in Mexican traditional clothing." - Mario Staka 8th grade

"He uses the outside background, the clothing and the hairstyles." -Katya Urbano 8th grade

"The look, or expressions on the peoples faces and the way they pose for it." -Jenifer Mejia 8th grade

"I like the 1 with a man wearing a mariachi suit and hat and he's hiding his face with it. What I like is the fact he's hiding his identity. Reminds me of me."-Christopher Mejia- 8th grade

"My favorite photo is Orgullo" because it symbolizes pride in Mexican culture. It also seems that she is very attached to her roots which I am slowly losing. I admire her." -Jenifer Mejia 8th grade

"The picture I liked best was the one with the kid and the chicken because it was really a thing that brought me laughter."-Mario Staka- 8th grade

"I like the image of where a kid is standing in the middle of the field. It's interesting because its sort of an alone picture. It creates a sad and confused mood like real life."-Christina Aviles-8th grade

What kinds of connections can you make between the images?

"One connection would be my roots which I don't have, that are being portrayed. A theme what is repeated is the wardrobe."- Jenifer Mejia 8th grade

"Each picture is connected by culture." - Christopher Mejia 8th grade

"Purity and proud pride- these people take pride in their picture and are proud to be who they are."-Vivia Thompson 8th grade

Bronx Culture Trolley

POP students enjoyed a cultural art night out in the Boogie Down Bronx by participating in the Bronx Council of the Arts, Bronx Culture Trolley to view exhibits Dream Sequence at the the Longwood Arts Gallery, Fosforera at Hostos Community College and Mi Sangre at Pregones Theater. Students also won Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird as part of the Big Read in the Bronx event.

"I am A Photographer"

At the World Savvy Global Youth Media and Arts Jam Session, POP students broke into various workshop groups with talented teaching artists exploring different genres within performance art and then gave the audience a show. Jasmine, a 7th grade POP student from Mexico living in the Bronx acted out with the rest of her group how she identifies herself. Jumping up on the stage, Jasmine flashed, clicked, positioned photo after photo as her peers charaded their individualism. At the end, each student shouted one character phrase and Jasmine's proudly snapped, "I am a photographer!"

Jasmine in her breakout session during the workshop piece of the Jam session.


Jasmine proudly taking pictures during her identity performance piece.


Jasmine's photographs from the stage.

World Savvy Jam Session

POP students participated for the second year in a row in the World Savvy Global Youth Media and Arts Jam Session on Saturday March 7th in Brooklyn, NY. Below is the "Stories from the Field" hosted on World Savvy's website.

The Jam - "I learned today that there is no limit to what I can do!"

On Saturday, March 7, more than 100 students and teachers from New York's five boroughs gathered for World Savvy's Jam Session in Brooklyn Heights. The Jam is part of the Global Youth Media and Arts Program and began with a rousing performance by Senegalese hip-hop artist Baay Musa, who rapped about his own experience as an African immigrant, his struggles and his determination to succeed. Students carried Musa's inspirational message into small breakout workshops where they explored Immigration and Identity with professional filmmakers, dancers, theater-artists and musicians.
Workshops ranged from personal identity exploration through Indian music and dance to spoken-word reflections on the borders that young people encounter in their own lives. After two hours, groups returned to the auditorium full of nervous energy and excited to share their creative projects. Teachers exclaimed with pride as some of their shyest students broke out of their shells and took center stage, revealing aspects of their cultures, rallying against stereotypes and articulating their own American dreams.
On World Savvy surveys, 100% of participants said that the Jam Session gave them a better understanding of Immigration and Identity than they had before and that the Jam helped them see how Immigration and Identity effects them, their communities and the world. Students also shared more personal feedback; one World Savvy Columbian-American teen wrote, "I learned today that there is no limit to what we can do!"

Kassandra's Quinceañera

I am currently editing the photos I shot from Kassandra's quinceañera/sweet sixteen in the Bronx. Kassandra chose to merge both Puerto Rican and American traditions by celebrating her quinceañera on her sixteenth birthday. Her coming of age celebration was full of rituals and symbolism. Below, Kassandra relaxes in the banquet hall after her party has ended. Her grandpa pinches her cheeks and gives her a good night beso, or kiss. The doll in the foreground is her última muñeca, the last doll she will receive in her childhood, a symbol of both maturity and purity. The última muñeca, dressed identically to Kassandra, is pinned with leftover capias, or charms, that were given as recuerdos, or keepsakes, to the quinceañera guests.

The Grid Multimedia Piece

During the Eddie Adams Workshop, my group, team silver, created this multimedia piece revealing the six degrees of separation between community members in the town of Liberty, NY. We were the first group in the history of the workshop to combine audio,video and still photography. Check out this article in Photo District News.

Eddie Adams Workshop Images

Last fall I was selected to participate in the Eddie Adams Workshop. I was assigned to photograph two sisters, Megan and Hunter, their relationship to each other, their friend Zayerra and the community of Liberty, NY. They were amazing young women to photograph. These images reveal only a glimpse of their layered lives.