Workshop This Weekend in Baltimore

Our Baltimore Photo Camp in November was a great success! We worked with a group of young Turkish refugees who are recent immigrants to the Baltimore community.

Our goal was to document the students’ experiences and perspectives as immigrants to Baltimore through photography and writing.

Our final story wove together the students’ view of several locations in Baltimore, as well as personal stories.

Students are all Meskhetian Turks, immigrants to the US from Russia and Turkey.  Get further information about this population.

These are the themes and questions that the students responded to, in words and photographs, through this project:

• Describe your journey story to this community.
• What is different for you here in the US?
• What challenges have you faced as an immigrant to this community?
• What are your hopes for the future?

Letter from One of Our Participants

The following is a letter from a Russian student who participated in our program recently. This is why we do what we do.

“It’s Konstantin, and probably you forgot me. I was in the National Geographic Photo Camp in Erie. I want to say one more time `Thank you for the Photo Camp`. The Photo Camp will be always in my heart. It’s something that I never forget: people, time, and place. I never forget you, Sam Abell, Jim Webb and Lelen Robert. You are now in my heart.I every day remember about the Photo Camp, and sometimes tears go on my cheeks ( I cry), because the Photo Camp is over. And I think how it was wonderful time in my life, that I ever had.

Sorry for my English, I know that’s not perfect writing, but I wrote that was in my heart. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH!!”

VisionWorkshops would not exist without the help of our supporters. You can learn more about how to donate from the Vision Workshops site.

Expanded Board of Directors

Hello Friends of VisionWorkshops,

I’m very pleased to announce our expanded Board of Directors. VisionWorkshops is growing, and as we continue to provide dynamic educational experiences to young people through photography, we’re fortunate to benefit from the expertise of these new members.

I’d like to welcome the following to our team:

Board of Directors
Hal Shear
Griff Hall
Bud Billups
Sandy Huberfeld
* in addition to existing Board members Kara Brook and Kirsten Elstner

Advisory Board
Sam Abell
Susan Reeve
Stephen Crowley
Darsie Alexander
Lelen Robert
Jay Badams

Please see information about our Board and updated galleries on our new website:  http//www.VisionWorkshops.org

Sincere thanks to Kara and Brook Group for their creative efforts on the site redesign!

Other news

VisionWorkshops continues to develop and expand our regional programs, with workshops geared toward inner-city youth in the Annapolis, Baltimore, D.C. area.

We currently work with Juvenile Drug Court kids as well as young immigrants to our community.  In 2008, we’ll launch Chesapeake Champions, photo workshops in partnership with the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

National Geographic Photo Camp will travel to eight domestic and two international locations in 2008, working with youth from underserved areas on issues of nature and the environment.

Thanks as always for your interest and support of VisionWorkshops!

All the best,
Kirsten