O82 Art Crew
October 20, 2021
Youth Photo Essay Project and Exhibit
Date: 2017
Location: Jade/APANO Multicultural Space (JAMS), East Portland
Collaborators: Jennifer Phung and Tommy Larracas
The Youth Photo Essay Project and Exhibit captured young people of color experiences, challenges, and their changing environments in the Jade and Midway Districts. Over the course of several months, youth from the Youth Environmental Justice Alliance (YEJA) explored and documented what it's like growing up in Portland and living in East Portland communities and captured their families' experiences of displacement and resilience. This project culminated in an "Eastside ‘Just Us’ Stories Photo Exhibition" which featured multimedia story-telling and creative performances by youth. This project challenged the notions people have of Portland and of young people of color. The project flipped the narrative and empowered young people of color, as well as created a safe space in our community to celebrate our diverse identities.
