My Vision, My Voice was a 3-week arts education workshop that was recently held with 10 residents of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home. The students participated in photojournalism processes with the ultimate goals being:

• to teach the basics of photography and journalism
• to increase literacy skills
• to teach creative expression through writing and photography
• to raise students’ self-esteem

Presented by the North Central Louisiana Arts Council and taught by photographer Kate Kilburn and journalist Briana Arrington, workshop participants explored their environment through arts and literacy. The project ended with a celebratory exhibition of writings and photographs from the students. Thanks to Henry McCoy of Fine Line Art Supply, each students’ work was mounted and displayed in our recreation building in a “gallery style” where the students and their guests could walk through and appreciate the finished products.  Thank you to Josh Shirley with Raising Cane’s for providing a meal to the youth during the celebration.

My Vision, My Voice was made possible through funds from a grant by the Plum Creek Foundation. The Children’s Home is grateful to all NCLAC members and our own staff who participated in making the educational workshop a successful one for our youth. NCLAC’s Jessica Slaughter and Natalie O’Rourke-Christopher with the Children’s Home, were instrumental in coordinating the workshop and look forward to doing more workshops with youth in the future.