Photoville Educator Lab Fall 2024
Catalyst Of Change: Visual Storytelling for 2024 & Beyond
Registration has ended. If you missed it, don’t worry, resources and recordings will be available here at a later date!
Photoville, in partnership with PhotoWings and St. Ann’s Warehouse, invites educators to explore the topic of Civic Education and Visual Media Literacy with an emphasis on visual arts and photography.
“Catalyst Of Change: Visual Storytelling for 2024 & Beyond,” is designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate visual media literacy and civic education into their curriculum.
Participants will explore how visual media shapes perceptions and influences public opinion, and understanding the critical role photography plays in society.
In our sessions we will cover:
- Foundations of Visual Media Literacy: Understanding the basics of reading and analyzing visual content, from photographs to infographics and video.
- Critical Thinking and Media Analysis:Tools and techniques for evaluating the credibility of different media sources, identifying bias, and interpreting messages.
- Integrating Civic Education: Strategies to incorporate visual media literacy into lessons on civic engagement and social justice.
- Discussion and Reflection: Opportunities to share insights and experiences with peers, fostering a community of practice that supports ongoing learning and development.
The workshop aims to inspire educators to use media as a powerful tool for teaching and to empower their students to become informed, critical, and engaged citizens.
This lab is ideal for New York City middle + high school educators across subject matter who want to explore advancements in visual media literacy and incorporate civic engagement into their curriculum.
Light Breakfast + Lunch will be provided.
Additional Accommodations: If you are in need of special accommodations while attending our event including an ASL interpreter, please reach out to [email protected]
Photoville Educator Labs are professional development workshops for educators to be inspired, connect and collaborate on ways to bring visual storytelling into the classroom. The program is free and open to educators of all subjects and of all ages, but the content will be focused on middle school and high school art teachers working in the DOE and in community programs.
Photoville Educator Labs are produced in partnership with PhotoWings. With additional support from St. Ann’s Warehouse.
Wednesday, November 13, 10:30am–4:30pm EST @ St. Ann's Warehouse
Featured Artists & Educators
Visual Media Literacy Workshop with Barnabas Crosby
In the Information Age, the ability to engage critically with visual media is essential. This 75-minute workshop empowers educators to explore the fundamentals of visual media literacy through photography. Participants will learn how to analyze and interpret images, understanding key elements that shape viewer perception. Through interactive discussions and hands-on exercises, educators will develop strategies to integrate visual media literacy into their classrooms, fostering students’ critical thinking and media awareness. This workshop is ideal for teachers seeking to deepen their understanding of visual storytelling and enhance students’ ability to navigate today’s media landscape.
Barnabas Crosby
Barnabas Crosby is a Brooklyn-based educator, visual storyteller, and native of Cleveland. In 2010, he founded Whiskey Boys Entertainment, a storytelling vehicle dedicated to sharing stories of Everyday Black Living through black-and-white stills and moving pictures. In 2015, while collaborating with the BKLYN Combine and Humanities NY, Barnabas launched Baldwin + Friends, a reading and conversation platform. Trained as a playwright and dramaturg, he leverages education, art, and media to help young people craft their individual and cultural narratives.
In 2021, Barnabas was named the Photo Urbanism Fellow at Design Trust for Public Space, showcasing his work at the Nasdaq Building and the Grand Army Library in Brooklyn. In 2023, he curated the youth-led photography exhibition “A New Place Like Home” at the Museum of the City of New York and later installed a series of images at Lehman College School of Education, documenting the journey of prospective teacher candidates. His work has been featured in Fortune, International Business Magazine, and CAMOC: Museums of Cities Review. Barnabas continues to teach photography at Harlem School of the Arts and serves as a documentary photographer at Lehman College School of Health and Human Services through the Research foundation.
“Notes From The Field” Panel Discussion
The “Notes From The Field” panel is an engaging and insightful session that delves into the world of photojournalism, showcasing the crucial interplay between visual media literacy and civic participation.
This interactive panel will feature photojournalists who will share their personal experiences and the profound impact their work has had on social and cultural landscapes.
This panel not only aims to enlighten attendees about the pivotal role of visual media in shaping public opinion but also provides budding photographers with the tools and inspiration to pursue meaningful projects in the realm of civic education and engagement.
Terry Parris, Jr.
Terry Parris Jr. is an engagement journalist with more than 15 years of experience working with newsrooms, libraries, universities, community groups and the public on ambitious storytelling projects. He’s dedicated to cultivating community-centered storytelling and fostering meaningful engagement with the subjects and communities he works in. He currently serves as Public Square Editor for Headway, an initiative by The New York Times.
Before joining Headway, Terry was the Engagement Director at THE CITY where he launched several of its most impactful — and award winning — community-driven projects including The Open Newsroom, Civic Newsroom and MISSING THEM. Terry served as a deputy editor at ProPublica, where he was part of the team that was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. He currently teaches at Queens College (City University of New York) and advises students at the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Reporting at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Additionally, Terry is pursuing a master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the Pratt Institute, focusing on public engagement and programming.
Laila AnnMarie Stevens
Laila Annmarie Stevens (b. 2001) is a Black Queer Photographer and Visual Artist born and raised in South Jamaica Queens, NY based in Brooklyn, NY. She received her BFA in Photography and Related Media at The Fashion Institute of Technology. Redefining traditional family structures through contemporary community kinship, particularly the sisterhood of marginalized women and girls. Their work is frequently published in The New York Times, and has been featured in National Geographic, The Nation, and The Guardian among other publications. Stevens is a 2023 Magnum Foundation Fellow, 2024 Aperture Portfolio Prize Shortlisted Artist, and a part of Eddie Adams Workshop Class of XXXIV, as well as a full-time member of Black Woman Photographers, Diversify Photo, and Scope of Work (S.O.W).
Partnering with local NYC youth non-profit organizations and cultural institutions, they obtained Guest Teaching Artist positions at The Studio Museum of Harlem, and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Stevens has given talks on her work at Southeastern Louisiana University and The Center for Book Arts.
Yu-Yu Demi Chen
New York-based Yu-Yu Demi Chen fell in love with photography as a young child exploring her father’s Taiwan photo studio. She has since developed her professional skills in a broad range of genres that includes portrait, event, and fine-art photography, in styles ranging from documentary to conceptual, all with an aesthetic shaped by her multicultural background. Also skilled with video and production, Chen earned her Master’s in Digital Photography from New York’s prestigious School of Visual Arts in 2022. Her most recent body of fine-art work, Irreversible, uses symbolism to create portraits and still lifes that capture the COVID-19 pandemic’s lasting psychological effects. This work was on display at Manhattan’s Soho Photo Gallery, SVA Gramercy Gallery and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. Her other work has been presented at Kaohsiung Cultural Center, Kuo Mu Sheng Foundation Art Center, and Te Chun Gallery in Taiwan.
Roy Baizan
Roy Baizan is a Mexican photographer from the Bronx. He photographs his community, family, and environment to preserve their stories. He uses the camera as a tool to uplift and celebrate his communities while deconstructing stereotypes associated with them.
For Roy, the photograph is just the beginning. His work as a photo educator is essential to the celebration of his community, as he seeks to pass forward and build upon the visual languages established by those before him and to inspire the next generation to come.
Civics Education & Civic Engagement with Meghan Nguyen
This interactive workshop will explore the transformative power of photography and visual media in driving civic engagement and social activism. Participants will delve into the ways visual storytelling can inform, inspire, and mobilize communities to address pressing social issues. Through a blend of group discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, attendees will learn how photographers and activists use imagery to evoke emotions, spark conversations, and fuel social movements. By understanding how images resonate emotionally and create narratives, participants will gain insights into building stronger connections between activism and their own communities.
Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, a community organizer, or simply passionate about social change, this workshop will equip you with practical tools to use photography as a catalyst for civic action and advocacy.
Meghan Nguyen
Meghan Nguyen (she/they) is a Brooklyn-based digital strategist. She has used her skills with digital strategy, community engagement and social media to develop narratives and messaging for organizations such as the Innocence Project, BerlinRosen, United We Dream, SEIU, One Fair Wage, Liberate Abortion and the Food Network. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with triple majors in journalism, sociology and Black Studies.Ultimately, Meghan’s professional trajectory, creative practice and aspirations are grounded in the idea that we must (and can) radically reimagine and rebuild a world rooted in liberation and transformational justice.
Civics For All with Chris Curmi-Hall
Civics for All (CFA), is an initiative which aims to cultivate civically ready students across NYC Public Schools K-12 by collaborating with teachers, education leaders, and partners. Civics For All is strongly committed to developing teacher capacity to harness democratic practices in all schools, empowering students to develop civics skills, knowledge, and mindsets. By providing comprehensive resources, professional opportunities, and teacher-developed tools, CFA strives to establish vibrant learning environments where students demonstrate the necessary skills and disposition to protect and expand our democratic ideals.
Chris Curmi-Hall
Chris Curmi-Hall is an instructional design leader with 14 years of experience in teaching and learning, curriculum development, assessment design, and project management. Proven ability to laterally manage cross-division teams, develop innovative learning experiences, and ensure alignment with educational standards. Passionate about creating engaging and effective learning experiences for learners and educative curricular resources for teachers.