Bringing “Everyday Africa” to Fulton County Schools
About a year ago at LOOK3 photo festival in Charlottesville, two ACP board members saw a presentation from Austin Merrill about the instagram-based project “Everyday Africa.” Barbara and Mary knew Austin’s project would be great for Atlanta, and earlier this year, thanks to Wells Fargo, ACP worked with Austin to implement the “Everyday” curriculum into two high schools from very different parts of Atlanta; Tri-Cities in the south, and Riverwood in the north.
With a team of ACP volunteers, the classes investigated how stereotypes are created and reinforced, and eventually, how photography can inspire and leverage the dissolution of these same stereotypes.
ACP’s effort with Austin inspired “Everyday Atlanta,” a year-long affair, and this first phase involving TCHS & Riverwood will be followed by more public projects this summer and fall.
This past weekend, Austin was in town for the presentation of the final project from both schools, and for a public talk about Everyday Africa (& the forthcoming Everyday Atlanta) at Midtown Arts Cinema.
Tri-Cities posted their final project on YouTube, and we encourage you to take a look.
We’d like to say a big thank you Wells Fargo, to ACP Board President Barbara Griffin, the intrepid Mary Stanley, and the whole ACP team who’s volunteered with this amazing project; Joshua Rashaad McFadden, Rachel LaCour Niesen, Billy Howard, Allen Cooley and Candice Greathouse; the two teachers, Chris Sandlin from Tri-Cities and Lana Ensmann from Riverwood; Peter Dicampo and Austin Merrill from Everyday Africa; and of course, the students from Tri-Cities & Riverwood!
Thank you, all!
Originally published on ACP Now!
