An open letter to all those interested in knowing more about This letter describes the Paterson Youth Photography Project (PYPP) and requests your volunteer and/or financial support for this worthy endeavor. Who we are. PYPP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of the Paterson Youth Photography Project is to enrich the lives of school age children in Paterson by introducing them to photography as a means for self-expression and an opportunity for personal growth. Website. Go to www.pypp.org to view photos and further details about the Paterson Youth Photography Project. What we’re about. PYPP is a collaborative endeavor established by volunteer photographers who work closely with the Paterson YMCA. The volunteers handle all teaching, recruiting, fundraising, and logistics. The Paterson YMCA provides classroom space at no cost in exchange for PYPP’s providing photography classes to their children – free for Paterson children. Who benefits. As many as 80% of Paterson children qualify for free or reduced price lunches at school, so they are quite poor. Some of the 9-13 year old children in PYPP classes live in public housing. Most have little or no experience with photography, art exhibits, or field trips. All can benefit from a mentoring program like PYPP because they are smart, enthusiastic, and creative.
Fall and Spring – Saturday mornings at the Paterson YMCA, 128 Ward Street, Paterson, from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, October-December and February-April. Professional photographers are welcome to be guest speakers. If you are a non-photographer who would like to help, PYPP needs people to handle the sign-in table at its annual reception, create a database of PYPP graduates, raise funds, etc. What we need – financial. Included in the operating expenses PYPP incurs to support its program each year are the costs of enlarging and framing more than 50 exhibit photos, catering the annual reception for about 100 guests, postage/printing/labels for 350 invitations, film and film processing, repair or replacement of cameras, and supplies such as batteries and camera cases. The annual reception to kick off the newest PYPP exhibit takes place at the Paterson Museum during the first week in June. Photos in the exhibit are then displayed throughout the year at the Paterson Museum, the Paterson Library, Passaic County Community College, Barnert Hospital, and the Great Falls Historic District Cultural Center. Every other year, it has also been on display at Ridgewood Library. Eric Wade, PYPP Treasurer, P.O. Box 2262, Paterson, NJ 07509 What the children gain. A primary goal of PYPP is to give children the opportunity to expand their life experience and develop their self-confidence. In this regard, here are a few of the comments PYPP students made in response to this question: “What did you learn about yourself from taking photographs?”
Another important goal is to give children the opportunity to learn and demonstrate responsibility. Students in our classes have been awestruck when told that they will be entrusted with a camera for a few weeks during each semester – $140 point-and-shoot cameras for students in the Basic Photography classes and $300 manual SLR cameras for students in the more advanced photography classes. Since we began teaching in January 2002, nearly all cameras have been returned – a very impressive record for these kids. Yet another goal is for children to gain positive recognition for their talent and creativity. Toward this end, PYPP holds an annual reception at the Paterson Museum to kick off the newest exhibit. Approximately 100 people attend these receptions. When the children’s names are called, they each stand up and walk to the place where their framed photos are displayed on the gallery wall. When all their names have been called, they receive applause and a standing ovation. Those who attended the exhibit were impressed with the quality and creativity of the photos and the touching comments that accompanied them - for instance, “I took this photograph to capture the happy moment on my sisters’ faces.” PYPP also submitted students’ photos to United Way of Passaic County when it sponsored a countywide, juried photography contest in May 2002. A photo taken by a 12-year-old PYPP student won “Best in Show”. Who to contact. If you have any questions or comments about PYPP or wish to donate, volunteer, or attend our reception, please feel free to contact us at info@pypp.org. Be sure to provide your phone number and Email address. Thank you for your interest in the Paterson Youth Photography Project. List of Instructors - 2007-08Gwenn Levine, Ph.D. Rich Gheno Nancy Ann Merena Jihad King
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What we need – volunteers. If you want to do something meaningful, love photography, and/or are interested in enriching the lives of inner city kids, PYPP is the program for you! If you are a photographer who would like to teach, note that weekly classes take place as follows: