Youth in Focus
3722 South Hudson St.SeattleWA98118
206-723-1479206-721-5917

Program: Youth in Focus Year Started: 1994 Focus: Photography Youth Served: 30 Ages: 13-17 Budget: $30,000 Walter Bodle, an inner-city school teacher for more than 30 years, started Youth in Focus (YIF) to broaden youths' vision through photography and to give them tools for changing their lives. Under the auspices of the Photographic Center School, YIF has built partnerships with several community organizations, including the American Indian Heritage School and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. Youth recruited from alternative public schools, social service agencies and community youth organizations take part in a 10-week summer program that focuses on capturing the strengths of teen culture and communities through black-and-white photography. Professional photographers and serious amateurs meet with teens twice a week for 2 hours to teach them how to shoot, develop and print photographs. Cameras are provided for the duration of the course. Youth can re-enroll and are encouraged to maintain a relationship with their artist/mentor. Local galleries host group exhibitions of students' work at the end of the session. These exhibitions give visibility to some of Seattle's most marginalized youth.