Reimagining Community Through the Lens of Youth
Making a Difference Foundation – Youth Photography Program
The Making a Difference Foundation Youth Photography Program was created to do more than teach technical skills—it was designed to help young people see their community differently
and, in doing so, help the world see it differently too.
Launched nearly three years ago with initial funding from a City of Los Angeles grant, the program was first offered in the summer of 2022. What began as a single seasonal initiative has since evolved into a year-round creative pathway that empowers middle school students to tell their own stories through photography.
Making a Difference Foundation
Why This Program Matters
The Youth Photography Program matters because it empowers young people to see themselves and their communities through a new lens—and to share that vision with the world.
In areas often shaped by negative narratives, students are given the tools to document the beauty, culture, and resilience around them. Through photography, they build confidence, creative voice, and pride in where they come from—while developing a real-world, marketable skill in today’s digital economy.
As participants explore their neighborhoods and cultural landmarks like Watts Towers, they learn that art can emerge from everyday spaces and overlooked places. This shift in perspective is transformative, helping students move from limitation to possibility.
The impact extends beyond the classroom. Students begin speaking about their communities with pride, some gaining opportunities to assist professional photographers and explore creative career paths. At a time when arts education is being cut from schools, this program fills a critical gap—offering access, mentorship, and a platform for youth voices.
By trusting young people to tell their own stories, the program reshapes narratives and creates lasting impact—one image at a time.
Program Purpose & Vision
At the heart of the program is a powerful idea:
Young people should be the ones defining how their neighborhoods are seen.
Inspired by years of negative media portrayals of South Los Angeles, program leaders recognized a disconnect between public narratives and lived experience. The Youth Photography Program invites students to document the beauty, culture, resilience, and everyday brilliance of their communities—through their own eyes.
By placing cameras in the hands of youth, the program:
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Encourages creative expression and confidence
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Builds pride in place and identity
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Challenges harmful stereotypes with authentic storytelling
As one program leader shared, “Growing up in South LA didn’t look like what the media showed. This program helps kids show what’s really here.”
