Photovoice is a participatory research method that uses photography to help us answer questions and learn about community issues while also providing a platform for youth voice and creative expression. For this Photovoice project, youth and their mentors explored topics of resilience in their community through their own lens.

RECAST (Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma) is a federal, 5-year initiative facilitated by the Chicago Department of Public Health that harnesses the power of community-based organizations and residents to create resources and promote healthy ways to heal from challenges. The goal of ReCAST is to build community resilience in Chicago through trauma-informed practices, violence prevention, and community-informed plans.
Through Our Lens tells stories of personal connection and relationships, caring, community improvement, safety, peace, and joy. We are a community of strength that echoes the very sound of unity, perseverance, and upholds the courage of our brothers and sisters working on bettering our community. Like Colin Kaepernick taking the knee to fight against racial injustice and police brutality in America, we too fight for our community as we convey our message of resiliency through our photography. What may seem like an eternity of darkness, the power lies within our journey to understanding resiliency. As the fear of the unknown hover over us, safety becomes the highlight within our community and people gathering together is the driving force that inspires resiliency. There will be an ongoing fight, but we will always win. As you journey with us through our exhibition, we want you to understand that resiliency isn’t black or white, but it’s full of color, complexity, and a multitude of stories. Will you be next in spreading the word of what a resilient community looks like?

Catherine Stapleton
ReCAST Photovoice Youth Co-Facilitator and Community Ambassador