Alicia Hansen Speaks at The MET on Art and Social Justice The MET — June 30, 2025

Our Founder & CEO Alicia Hansen was a guest speaker at The Collaborative for Creative Practice and Social Justice at the MET Museum. Alicia joined the community partnerships and initiatives celebration and spoke about how the arts continue to empower communities across NYC. The Collaborative is made up of 21 arts and cultural organizations and examines the transformative power of the arts through the lenses of justice & equity, relationship building, sustainability, and social impact.

Read more about The Collaborative for Creative Practice and Social Justice →

NYC Salt featured on The Daily Beans podcast The Daily Beans — May 23, 2025

A volunteer mentor shared NYC Salt’s impact on The Daily Beans, a progressive news podcast. The segment highlighted Salt’s two-decade-long work empowering underrepresented NYC youth through photography and life skills. With alumni attending top schools like NYU and RISD, and recent features including the Kelly Clarkson Show and a guest class by Annie Leibovitz, the spotlight comes at a crucial moment, as the National Endowment for the Arts is cutting funding for many arts and cultural organizations nationwide.

NYC Salt Back on The Kelly Clarkson Show for Women’s History Month! The Kelly Clarkson Show — March 19, 2025

Alicia and other inspiring female non-profit founders & CEOs joined The Kelly Clarkson Show to celebrate Women’s History Month! How many Salt team members, students, and alumni can you spot in the audience?

NYC Salt on The Kelly Clarkson Show The Kelly Clarkson Show — January 31, 2025

NYC SALT appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, featuring student Danieli’s stunning photos of Kelly’s audience. Founder Alicia Hansen shared how the program empowers youth through photography, while graduate Malike Sidibe discussed how NYC SALT launched his career.

Interview with Alicia Hansen, Founder and CEO of NYC Salt Unseen – September 12, 2022

Since 2008, NYC Salt has helped hundreds of young people develop skills, confidence, and career paths in creative industries. By fostering community and providing professional mentorship, NYC Salt offers life-changing opportunities and promotes diversity in the arts. Their emerging artists have gained recognition in major publications and international exhibitions like Unseen.

Towards the Bigger Picture – Alicia Hansen & NYC SALT Moleskine Foundation – May 10, 2022

Founded in 2008 by Alicia Hansen, NYC SALT is a nonprofit that empowers youth aged 14 to 26 through photography and creative arts education, offering hands-on training, mentorship, and career support to foster personal growth and professional opportunities in the visual arts.

Alicia Hansen – CEO and Founder of NYC Salt Kaospilot – 2022

Alicia Hansen, founder of NYC SALT, a nonprofit that uses photography to help underserved youth in NYC access college and creative careers. She discusses her work, impact, and connection with Kaospilot, which has shaped her leadership and teaching approach.

NYC SALT Emerging Artist Exhibition Named #11 of 13 New Public Art Installations in NYC — July 2021 Untapped Cities — July 1, 2021

This summer, NYC SALT unveiled a public outdoor exhibition at Hudson River Park featuring 22 large-scale vinyl panels showcasing work by young emerging NYC artists and graduates of NYC SALT’s visual arts program. Curated by Polly Irungu, the exhibit highlights the unique perspectives of underserved city youth through professional photography and storytelling, portraying the dynamic communities they belong to.

NYC SALT Summer Series: Art Among Sun and Sky — July 2021 Chelsea Community News — July 12, 2021

NYC SALT’s outdoor exhibits Dancing with Light and Emerging Artists showcase photography by NYC youth in public parks. Born during the pandemic, the shows offer free community access to art and give students the chance to sell their work and gain professional experience. NYC SALT plans to continue blending outdoor and indoor exhibitions.

Student Group Publication in The New York Times Magazine: "NYC Wakes Up" The New York Times Magazine — June 13, 2021

Three NYC SALT students — Emmersen Tormey, Malike Sidibe, and Mamadi Doumbouya — were selected for assignments in the story "NYC Wakes Up," published on June 13th. Emmersen was one of the few high school students chosen and earned $3,000 for her first professional assignment, showcasing their incredible talent and impact through photography during the city's reopening phase.

Feature on NYC SALT students: “A New Light” The GroundTruth Project — December 21, 2020

NYC SALT students participated in a powerful photo essay project capturing their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This visual series reflects resilience, isolation, and hope, showcasing how young artists used photography to express complex emotions during an unprecedented time.

Forbes 30 Under 30: Art & Style 2021 Forbes — 2021

Forbes' 30 Under 30 Art & Style Class of 2021 highlights young creatives redefining the future of fashion, art, and design. This year’s list features NYC Salt alum Mamadi Doumbouya, a celebrated photographer recognized for his powerful portraiture and visual storytelling. Alongside Mamadi, the list includes founders, artists, and designers pushing boundaries and amplifying diverse voices in the creative world.

NYC SALT Print Sale Announced: Supporting Emerging Artists in 2020 BuzzFeed News — December 12, 2020

In response to the challenges faced by the photography community during the pandemic, NYC SALT held two online print sales in 2020, raising tens of thousands of dollars. These sales help fund photography and college prep programs, allowing NYC SALT to expand classes and support more students despite the ongoing crisis.

With classes and cameras, NYC Salt gives underrepresented youth a voice Digital Trends — September 10, 2020

Alicia Hansen, our Founder, and Malike Sidibe, Salt Alumni, speak about the organization and the ways we provide a platform, a bridge, and a community to the brilliant young photographers we work with.

Youth Photo Nonprofits: Q&A with Alicia Hansen, Founder & CEO of NYC SALT B&H — September 3, 2020

Jill Waterman sits with Alicia Hansen, our founder, to discuss the organization and all the amazing things we are up to!

Feature on one of our students about online learning: The Future of Classrooms Faces a Learning Curve The New York Times — June 13, 2020

This article explores the rapid shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting challenges such as student engagement, inequities in access to technology, and the importance of facilitators and structure. Research shows that students perform better in virtual classes when supported by mentors and consistent schedules, with examples from Michigan’s statewide virtual learning programs.

Where We Are Now - Episode 12: Sharing Ideas that Affect Meaningful Change Workbook Podcast — June 12, 2020

This episode of the weekly webinar series "Where We Are Now" focuses on addressing systemic barriers for BIPOC in the industry. The panel, including NYC Salt founder Alicia Hansen, photographers Daniel Martinez and Nathalie Gordon, and others, discuss ideas and strategies to create meaningful change through community engagement and visual arts.

Dear Art Producer: 058 — Alicia Hansen, Founder & CEO of NYC SALT Dear Art Producer Podcast— June 8, 2020

Alicia Hansen joins Heather to talk about SALT’s youth development program, mentoring, success stories, and the Prints by Salt Print Sale.

Artists and agencies collaborate to bring in new talent Shots.net — March 30, 2020

Alicia Hansen worked with Eli Rotholz of Alkemy X to create a space for students and alumni to showcase their talent to the advertising world.

Lenses of the Unseen Capture the Untold Bittersweet — September, 2019

Whether philanthropy will see the benefit of a program that puts long-term relationships at the core of its mission remains to be seen. But if art is one of the few things left that might clarify and not obfuscate, unite and not divide, we should be all in on its communal expression.

Teenage Documentarians Show the Power of Photography The New York Times Lens Blog— May 4, 2017

This feature spotlights teenage photographers from New York City’s community programs, including NYC Salt, who use their cameras to explore identity, family, politics, and changing neighborhoods. Through photography, these young artists find a creative voice and a way to understand themselves and the world around them.

Our Founder, Alicia Hansen, was named New Yorker of the Week NY1, New Yorker of the week — March 10, 2017

Alicia Hansen, NYC Salt’s founder and executive director, was honored by NY1 for her dedication to helping high school students develop photography skills essential for college and career success. The feature highlights her commitment to mentoring young creatives and expanding opportunities in the arts within New York City’s underserved communities.

Photography Program NYC SALT Teaches High Schoolers Life Lessons Beyond The Lens The Today Show — July 26, 2015

In our first foray into national media, the Today show did a segment on NYC Salt in July 2015!

Alicia Hansen: Salt of the Earth zPhotoJournal — October 29, 2014

The NYC Salt program boasts an incredible 100% acceptance rate into college, in a neighborhood where only 37% receive higher education. And many of those were on full scholarships; to date, her students have received over a million dollars in scholarships!

Student Photography Put on Permanent Display at Firm's New York Plaza Offices Morgan Stanley — September 5, 2013

Student photography has been put on permanent display at the firm's New York Plaza offices. As part of the Firm’s renovation of various floors at 1585 Broadway and One New York Plaza, art curator Lonnie Lardner chose the photography of NYC Salt students to hang on the four newly designed floors of New York Plaza.

Nonprofit Photo Group, a Launching Pad For Teens Emerging Photographer — 2013

In 1994, photographer Alicia Hansen turned a one-off class for disadvantaged teens into NYCSalt, a volunteer-staffed nonprofit that teaches professional-grade skills similar to what these budding photographers would get if they could apprentice for a pro shooter.

Flavoring and Preserving the Lives Of At-Risk Youth Good Works — 2013

NYC Salt is flavoring and preserving the lives of at-risk youth. About six years ago, working with disposable cameras, the kids learned more than just photography. They were schooled on their potential and how they could alter their lives by tapping into their inner talents.

Looking at Our Hometowns The New York Times Lens Blog — September 19, 2013

This interactive photography project gathered over 4,200 images from teenagers across the U.S., capturing life in diverse communities. NYC Salt is highlighted among the contributors, showcasing its impact empowering inner-city youth through visual storytelling. The collection offers a unique portrait of America today as seen by young photographers, with some photos archived by the Library of Congress.

NYC SALT Gaining Momentum, Changing Lives PIR — January 10, 2013

NYC Salt is gaining momentum and changing lives. Many photo professionals have supported the program, including Gabe Biderman, Keri Friedman, and Jeff Cable.