PWP Community Service Workshop for Young Adults

©Photo Student

©Photo Student

On April 9th, PWP members Tanya Ahmed, Bonnie Geller-Geld, Carolyn Karsten, Andy Mars, Sheila Smith and Karen Smul had the unique opportunity to lead a photography workshop for young adults who are currently participating in the Young Adult Internship Program run by the NYC Dept. of Youth and Community Services. This program provides training for and placement in short-term internships for 16-24 year-olds who are not working and are not in school. The photography workshop was held at LaGuardia Community College where the young adults meet each week to work on job skills and other work related training.

©Andy Mars

©Andy Mars

As part of our workshop, we introduced photography concepts using selected images from our own work and other favorite shots. After initial introductions, the photographers led smaller groups on photo walks, giving hands on photo instruction with DSLRs. Finally, the groups reunited to view the just-shot images and present information on photography related employment.

©Andy Mars

©Andy Mars

M’Shell Paterson, the Assistant Director of the Workforce Education Center at LaGuardia, summed up the day:

©Photo Student

©Photo Student

“I just wanted to say thanks again for an awesome day. The workshop gave participants an opportunity not only to express themselves through  photography, but also to understand how finding and doing what you are  passionate about can be fulfilling and rewarding. They [the young adults] were all very impressed that all the photographers had such great stories to tell about their various  careers and how coming back to doing what they are passionate about  …photography…is what is making them happy.”

– Karen Smul

©Andy Mars

©Andy Mars

 

©Andy Mars

©Andy Mars

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>