The sharp action shot of a student thrusting his basketball through an open hoop hung from the wall of the College of Communication Lounge as the Boston University group, Exposure Initiative, opened its first gallery viewing Thursday night to a small group of students and parents.
EI leaders Alex Curtis and Aziza Hussain said they were excited to show the results of the group’s efforts for the first time.
“The students at the school and the members of the club have worked so hard and produced such great work,” COM sophomore Curtis said. “We want to share the results with the BU community and allow them to see the lives of these kids who are struggling at under-funded schools.”
EI is a group that works to introduce photography to middle school students by providing workshops for them to explore their talents. The best part of the program, according to parent Sonia Alleyne, is that “the kids get a chance to explore themselves in photo.”
“Once she puts her mind to something, she can get it done,” Alleyne said of her daughter.
CAS sophomore Amelia McGowan said EI is “a fun way to work on something I like.”
“It gives me an opportunity to work with photography outside the classroom,” she said.
CAS freshman Kesha Aridou said she enjoyed giving back to the community.
“When we’d give back their pictures, they were so excited,” she said. “It makes you feel good inside.”
Schools visited by EI include McKinley Middle School for students with behavioral issues and learning needs, Mother Caroline Academy for financially limited middle-school girls and Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Curtis spent time with students at McKinley.
“There is just such a dynamic between the McKinley students and the BU students,” she said. “We go about our day completely unconcerned about anything around us, worrying about our outfits, classes and how long we’ll have to wait for the T. They come from various economic backgrounds and often from troubled homes. They are all sent to this school because of some behavioral, social or emotional problem. Each week [they are] on a different medication which affects their mood and motivation.”
EI, a club since Spring 2005, has approximately 30 undergraduate and graduate members at BU. The group had to select middle schools to visit for the project.
“Our School Coordinator, Christie Ogino, researched different schools in the area to see which fit our criteria,” COM sophomore Hussain said, “and then contacted the school administrators to set up a meeting with the appropriate person to explain EI’s mission and interest in working with the school.”
McGowan said the event was held to inform the BU community of the group’s involvement.
“It’s difficult to teach middle-school students after they’ve been in school for six hours,” McGowan said, “but they have a lot of genuine interest in it.”
Hussain said the group has enjoyed much success.
“Our students have not only produced amazing artwork,” she said, “but also opened up to their mentors — Exposure Initiative members,” she said. “They have opened their doors and invited us in. They have allowed us into their lives.”