Critical Exposure teaches youth how to use the power of photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change. We provide at-risk youth with cameras, training, and the opportunity to show the world how it looks through their eyes. Participating students have documented issues ranging from deteriorating school facilities to youth homelessness to teen pregnancy. To date Critical Exposure has worked with more than 400 students in D.C., New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Austin, and Albuquerque. Participants have learned to use photography as a both a vehicle for self-expression and an advocacy tool. Thousands of people have seen the students’ images through public exhibits, community events, legislative hearings, and media coverage, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, PBS, NPR, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Perhaps most importantly, the students and their images have helped effect significant reforms in public education. Our largest victory occurred in Maryland where, thanks in part to the impact of the students’ photographs and testimony and to the work of our partners, the Maryland Education Coalition and the ACLU, the State General Assembly increased funding for school facilities by over $100 million. “The experience of being in Critical Exposure was very overwhelming for me because I had something as small as a black and white 35 mm camera, but to me it meant so much more. The opportunity to take pictures was my first time to finally be heard, not only by my friends and family, but by the media and public. Being a part of this program I learned that even the smallest thing such as the camera, can give you power and you need to use it in a way that benefits you and your society.” – Christina, 10th Grade, Philadelphia http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Students-at-work/Photos-in-Action/Kids-on-the-Hill-students-with/315612318_oUvSN-Ti.jpg http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/ 2009-11-03T11:33:03Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Russell-Rotunda-Exhibit-Oct09/9994723_Dyfvj">Russell Rotunda Exhibit (Oct. 09)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Russell-Rotunda-Exhibit-Oct09/9994723_Dyfvj" title="Russell Rotunda Exhibit (Oct. 09)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Russell-Rotunda-Exhibit-Oct09/DSC0942/683491306_7Fm3S-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Russell Rotunda Exhibit (Oct. 09)" title="Russell Rotunda Exhibit (Oct. 09)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-03T11:33:03Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Russell-Rotunda-Exhibit-Oct09/9994723_Dyfvj <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Tree-of-Life/9388941_fFv5z">Tree of Life</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Tree-of-Life/9388941_fFv5z" title="Tree of Life"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Tree-of-Life/TreeOfLife04/628798075_nC7LC-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Tree of Life" title="Tree of Life" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-10-22T23:53:57Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Tree-of-Life/9388941_fFv5z <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Alexandria-Youth-Council/5643192_Qz68C">Alexandria Youth Council (Spring 2008)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Alexandria-Youth-Council/5643192_Qz68C" title="Alexandria Youth Council (Spring 2008)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Alexandria-Youth-Council/Daycare-A-Place-Before-School/347050748_nRAy5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Alexandria Youth Council (Spring 2008)" title="Alexandria Youth Council (Spring 2008)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-10-22T23:51:40Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Alexandria-Youth-Council/5643192_Qz68C <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/HAP-2009/9633547_pWEhw">Higher Achievement Program Summer 2009</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/HAP-2009/9633547_pWEhw" title="Higher Achievement Program Summer 2009"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/HAP-2009/DSCF0007/649510686_QuL3B-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Higher Achievement Program Summer 2009" title="Higher Achievement Program Summer 2009" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-09-14T05:09:49Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/HAP-2009/9633547_pWEhw <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-2007-2008/5643235_qvQf5">Kid Power (2007-2008)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-2007-2008/5643235_qvQf5" title="Kid Power (2007-2008)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-2007-2008/DSC4122/472906604_KPmD2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Kid Power (2007-2008)" title="Kid Power (2007-2008)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-08-06T00:41:30Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-2007-2008/5643235_qvQf5 <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Spingarn-STAY-HS-Graduation/8628467_LJF3L">Spingarn STAY HS Graduation (June 2009)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Spingarn-STAY-HS-Graduation/8628467_LJF3L" title="Spingarn STAY HS Graduation (June 2009)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Spingarn-STAY-HS-Graduation/DSC04782/569212063_XS4ix-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Spingarn STAY HS Graduation (June 2009)" title="Spingarn STAY HS Graduation (June 2009)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-20T09:09:18Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Other/Spingarn-STAY-HS-Graduation/8628467_LJF3L <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Through-the-Lens-of-DC-Youth/8187832_fRyxN">"Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Spring 2009 Exhibit</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Through-the-Lens-of-DC-Youth/8187832_fRyxN" title=""Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Spring 2009 Exhibit"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Through-the-Lens-of-DC-Youth/DSCF0020/472910979_mFUeh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt=""Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Spring 2009 Exhibit" title=""Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Spring 2009 Exhibit" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-05-29T06:36:35Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Through-the-Lens-of-DC-Youth/8187832_fRyxN <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Baltimore/5634804_yLEKq">Baltimore</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Baltimore/5634804_yLEKq" title="Baltimore"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Baltimore/Bathroom-sign-Kayla/429107797_gaz8a-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Baltimore" title="Baltimore" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-05-29T06:33:36Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Baltimore/5634804_yLEKq <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Students-at-work/Photos-in-Action/5627723_ymGwq">Photos in Action</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Students-at-work/Photos-in-Action/5627723_ymGwq" title="Photos in Action"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Students-at-work/Photos-in-Action/Silhouette-of-girl-with-camera/315611048_jAxTy-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Photos in Action" title="Photos in Action" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-05-29T06:26:20Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Students-at-work/Photos-in-Action/5627723_ymGwq <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Anacostia-Exhibit-April-2009/7974404_gzsm2">Anacostia Exhibit (April 2009)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Anacostia-Exhibit-April-2009/7974404_gzsm2" title="Anacostia Exhibit (April 2009)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Anacostia-Exhibit-April-2009/DSC00612/518068738_7CbCP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Anacostia Exhibit (April 2009)" title="Anacostia Exhibit (April 2009)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-22T02:34:34Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Anacostia-Exhibit-April-2009/7974404_gzsm2 <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program-1/5583969_Kd9hD">Higher Achievement Program Student Photos (Summer 2008)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program-1/5583969_Kd9hD" title="Higher Achievement Program Student Photos (Summer 2008)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program-1/1CE7453-R2-008-2A/342497413_FfznW-Th.jpg" width="150" height="98" alt="Higher Achievement Program Student Photos (Summer 2008)" title="Higher Achievement Program Student Photos (Summer 2008)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-15T03:56:44Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program-1/5583969_Kd9hD <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-Fall-2008/7036338_Szpmy">Kid Power Fall 2008</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-Fall-2008/7036338_Szpmy" title="Kid Power Fall 2008"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-Fall-2008/Chris-Ridout/450664408_FmpyV-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Kid Power Fall 2008" title="Kid Power Fall 2008" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-13T00:23:14Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Kid-Power-Fall-2008/7036338_Szpmy <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Truesdell-Elementary/7080438_FRZHi">Truesdell Elementary</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Truesdell-Elementary/7080438_FRZHi" title="Truesdell Elementary"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Truesdell-Elementary/9/511613510_ki2mF-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Truesdell Elementary" title="Truesdell Elementary" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-13T00:21:22Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Truesdell-Elementary/7080438_FRZHi <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Spingarn-STAY-class/6718243_EEVrY">Spingarn STAY class</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Spingarn-STAY-class/6718243_EEVrY" title="Spingarn STAY class"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Spingarn-STAY-class/DSCF0050/511612628_qrB8V-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Spingarn STAY class" title="Spingarn STAY class" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-13T00:18:49Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Spingarn-STAY-class/6718243_EEVrY <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Washington-DC/5634821_UM5Hs">Washington DC</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Washington-DC/5634821_UM5Hs" title="Washington DC"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Washington-DC/Art-Brandon/429104031_9uEBp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Washington DC" title="Washington DC" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-02T07:40:15Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Washington-DC/5634821_UM5Hs <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Sasha-Bruce-Spring-2008/5643356_zB3VR">Sasha Bruce (Spring 2008)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Sasha-Bruce-Spring-2008/5643356_zB3VR" title="Sasha Bruce (Spring 2008)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Sasha-Bruce-Spring-2008/DSC4371-copy/347061367_XMFdo-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Sasha Bruce (Spring 2008)" title="Sasha Bruce (Spring 2008)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-04-02T07:36:12Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Sasha-Bruce-Spring-2008/5643356_zB3VR <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Orleans/5643258_fNJTM">New Orleans</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Orleans/5643258_fNJTM" title="New Orleans"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Orleans/Cade1/472463969_bm6ho-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="New Orleans" title="New Orleans" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T23:15:14Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Orleans/5643258_fNJTM <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Austin/5636520_gZSRX">Austin</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Austin/5636520_gZSRX" title="Austin"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Austin/FH000006/346480985_Re2XM-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Austin" title="Austin" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T23:11:43Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Austin/5636520_gZSRX <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Albuquerque/5636616_PVDg8">Albuquerque</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Albuquerque/5636616_PVDg8" title="Albuquerque"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Albuquerque/5Levner-R1-055-26/346488338_Qikr6-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Albuquerque" title="Albuquerque" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T23:07:49Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Albuquerque/5636616_PVDg8 <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Western-Pennsylvania/5643279_coU4z">Western Pennsylvania</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Western-Pennsylvania/5643279_coU4z" title="Western Pennsylvania"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Western-Pennsylvania/Alyssa-keyboard-high-res/411436306_rAJ8A-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Western Pennsylvania" title="Western Pennsylvania" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T03:17:47Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Western-Pennsylvania/5643279_coU4z <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/5927212_jTruL">Philadelphia</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/5927212_jTruL" title="Philadelphia"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/12/347616192_8yojc-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T03:13:31Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/5927212_jTruL <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Perry-School-Spring-2008/5643286_uStw9">Perry School (Spring 2008)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Perry-School-Spring-2008/5643286_uStw9" title="Perry School (Spring 2008)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Perry-School-Spring-2008/Boarded-Up-Housing-Lavell-site/347056252_3jQNw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Perry School (Spring 2008)" title="Perry School (Spring 2008)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-08-07T01:55:27Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Perry-School-Spring-2008/5643286_uStw9 <p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com">CriticalExposure</a> updated gallery '<a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program/5643222_LN5id">Higher Achievement Program (Summer 2007)</a>'</p><p><a href="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program/5643222_LN5id" title="Higher Achievement Program (Summer 2007)"><img src="http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program/CExpo27-R1-047-22/347052428_CDwhz-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Higher Achievement Program (Summer 2007)" title="Higher Achievement Program (Summer 2007)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-08-07T01:44:11Z CriticalExposure http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com http://criticalexposure.smugmug.com/Photography/Washington-DC/Higher-Achievement-Program/5643222_LN5id