Friends of Island Academy and the International Center of Photography: About

The International Center of Photography’s Community Partnerships focus on collaborations with schools, community centers, and other nonprofit organizations. The goal of the programs is to teach photography as a way to foster self-esteem and community empowerment in New York City neighborhoods. These programs are designed to meet the needs and interests of each partner, integrating photographic instruction with youth development and social change.

The Portable Digital Darkroom program was created to provide digital media education to teens who have little or no access to digital technologies and photography. Classes are held at the International Center of Photography, and instructors also take digital cameras and laptop computers to the partner site (Friends of Island Academy). Participants learn how to make photographs, work with computers and software, download and edit their images, and combine photography and writing to express their ideas and tell their stories. The collaboration culminates in a celebration and presentation of the students’ work.