NYC SALT: Non-profit Photography Program for Inner-City Teenagers, New York City, Arts Program
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About Us
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| Dear Friends, Welcome to our site! NYC SALT is a photography program that I created out of a small volunteer opportunity in January of 2005. It began as a photography class with a friend, Rebecca Locke, at an after school program in Washington Heights, teaching photography to teens with disposable cameras once a week. We had been inspired by the documentary film, Born into Brothels. I never expected it to grow into its own non-profit organization. However, after seeing what a difference photography made in the lives of these teens, the class has become something that I feel is a necessary part of their lives. It is a tool to keep kids off the street and inspire them to succeed. What makes this program most exciting to me is that I get to see first-hand the confidence that is built in the kids when they create an amazing picture, and when they have a personal success that we can celebrate with the other students in class. I created this non-profit because so many people, including my parents, have given so much to me throughout my career and my life that I wanted to give back using my God-given talents in photography. I wanted to make the greatest possible impact by tapping into my skill-set and contact-base here in NYC, and then sharing these resources with the kids I teach. I hope that you, too, will be inspired by what the kids have done. I am so proud and privileged to be a part of their lives. ~Alicia Hansen |