Photographing Community: A Student Lens on Democracy

<p>This is a photo of a water fountain in Woodlands Cemetery, a place I frequent due to its proximity to my house, serving, along with its intended purpose, as a walking and running trail. I settled on framing the photo around the bottom of the nozzle, placing it in the bottom right corner, in hopes that the eye would naturally travel from it, the brightest part of the image, along the water’s path. I added warmth and vibrancy to the image to add a positive and hopeful connotation to an otherwise desolate photo, save for the stream of water. My goal for this photo was to utilize its wintery desolation to show how community and care exist without people and in areas devoid of life in the form of ordinary objects. The water fountain, despite not being emblematic of life, and being surrounded by death, still reproduces community life in the form of water. The water fountain was built to provide something essential out of nothing more than care for others. The water fountain is also something public, residing where community does as well, in the interaction between people, rather than in a private area. So even though people aren’t visible here, their presence is implied and embodied in this water fountain, which serves as a marker of community.</p>

<p>The situation in which I captured this portrait mirrors the relationship between myself and the way I present my sexuality. Fleeting, because eventually, the sunlight will stop shining on my window and I will have to stop expressing myself so freely. And hidden, because within the comforts of my room, nobody is truly able to &#8220;see&#8221; who I am.</p> <p>In regards to community and care, there is the impression of pride and love for the LGBTQ+ community that I associate myself with in the portrait. It is emphasized through the portrait&#8217;s composition and the pose- which seems as if I&#8217;m almost displaying myself to the world as the rainbow rays shine on my face and my surroundings. And despite the fleeting and hidden aspects of the way that I present myself and my place within the LGBTQ+ community, I am still able to embody and represent who I am; my community is included within my identity regardless of my fear of societal expectations and reactions towards my failure to “conform” and adopt the “accepted” sexuality. </p> <p>While my sexuality is &#8220;hidden,&#8221; I am aware that my room is not my sole refuge because there exists a community of individuals that experience the same feelings as myself- that have to live a contradiction of an outwardly detached self and an inwardly attached one.</p> <p>Despite not being able to freely associate myself with it, I care for my community. And I’m hopeful for the day that people like myself, who have to distance themselves from a community they deeply care for, won’t have to do so anymore. </p>

<p>The photo was taken right before Christmas Eve as my family and some family friends prepared dinner. The candid perspective is meant to help the viewer feel a part of the event. In the photo, my sister laughs as a family friend taunts her over her scooping abilities while my mom is lost in thought over the next dish.<br /> Ever since I was little, family dinners have been an essential part to my upbringing. At dinner time my family discusses our days, argues over politics, laughs loudly, and reflects together. I thank my mother’s culture for these meals: my mom immigrated to the US almost 30 years ago from Iran. The way my family prepares dinner in America reflects the Persian approach to family; in Iran, the practice of family dinners and large gatherings is routine, with a revolving door of neighbors and friends. This stands in strong contrast to the American focus on individualism. In America, we rush through meals, often alone. It seems that we are gradually losing our focus on family to technology, politics, and consumerism, which have divided and isolated us. Maybe we should start with a dinner. </p>

<p>Growing up I have always had a community caring for me, whether it be my neighbors or schoolmates. But this care often doesn’t extend to those outside our communities. This image puts you in the place of the outsider – excluded from community. In the distance, you see large apartment buildings, their lights on in common areas as the residents care for each other. Without a community, you are trapped, left to simply dream of having one as you look past the sign and chain-link fence excluding you. Ultimately, it reminds the viewer that a community must consider who it is not caring for as much as it considers who it is.</p>

<p>For the past 30 summers, my family reunites at my grandparents’ beach house in Italy. We live together for a month and go on boat trips, like my cousins shown here. When we&#8217;re spending time together, I am so grateful to have a community who cares for each other as deeply as we do. Living in the individualistic hustle of the U.S. has taught me to truly appreciate the value of community, family and slow living in Italian culture. Because the idea of a nuclear family often rejects inter-generational family members living together, many Americans aren’t as connected and don’t have the long lasting traditions tied to them like Italians. These boat trips represent the cultural differences of community between the U.S and Italy.</p>

<p>This is a photo of my family’s shoes, lined up for one of the last times before my siblings leave the house after winter break. My family is my most intimate community. However, this community is fleeting, now that my siblings have both left for college. I always believed that it was contact that kept a community together, but through the brief reuniting of my family, I was proven wrong. I was shown that because of our shared values, our community could not be destroyed.</p>

<p>This picture captures three women and a young girl sitting outside a church during a service, which may seem like a disconnect in the community. In Ethiopia, the churches and mosques have loudspeakers to announce the service for the public to hear. They make it possible for people who are unable to enter the inside to still have a place to worship. In America, religion is not viewed as highly as it is in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, churches and mosques are open all day, every day. Americans rely more on laws and societal norms which shows the lack of care and connections within American communities. In Ethiopia, care is provided for citizens by putting loud speakers on the outsides of holy places to connect people.</p>

<p>This is a photograph of Central’s Crimson Dames Dance Team. Our team&#8217;s choreography follows the majorette dance form, which in America is associated with African Americans and seen as overly sensual unlike the rest of the world. I choose this photo because it represents a tight knit community I am a part of at Central High School. Our team consists of fourteen African American students coached by one of our school counselors, Ms. Sharp. She coaches our team with great love and has poured her passion for dance into us. She has created a comfortable space for all our members to enjoy as she continues to create and teach choreography to the team.</p>

<p>In America, people are able to come together from their community in public spaces to celebrate shared traditions and feel safe while doing so. This made me realize that in other communities in countries across the world, safety is not always guaranteed. American citizens in 2024, are able to gather in public spaces with their loved ones without worrying about their well-being. Most of the time as American citizens, we take for granted that we are able to do as we please without fear for our lives which is not the case for the citizens of other countries.</p>

<p>When I was little, my mom would sing me a song that went, “In the window, where you can see the glow of my menorah.” This year, the menorah in my family’s window looks different than normal. It’s an illustration, a poster my synagogue gave out to each member of our congregation during Hanukkah service. The flames spell out “ceasefire” and the corners contain flowers that are black, red, and green. The past four months have been the first time in my life when I’ve been ashamed to be Jewish. Watching as members of my community have been unable to look past their support for Zionism to see that thousands of people are dying under the Star of David, I’ve been sad and angry. I’ve wondered how a group’s citizenship status can evolve so quickly, from being pushed into gas chambers to committing genocide. I’ve teared up thinking about how for some, this crime against humanity is what the words “Never again” have come to mean. In Judaism, the word “tzedakah” means a commitment to justice – exerting care by helping those in need. In times when governments are marginalizing citizens, it is critical that different communities care for each other, serving as allies – not enemies – in times of need.</p>

<p>The photo features a Ghanaian flag beside a kente quilt adorned with Christian symbols at my Ghanaian Presbyterian Church. This place represents my community where I’ve formed lifelong relationships that have strengthened through various programs. It’s not just a church; it’s my comforting home within a safe and welcoming environment. The kente quilt, holds many stories of African history with its thickness and vibrant colors, each with its own meaning. Similarly, the Ghanaian flag carries its own history. Each color on the flag stands for something unique to the nation’s pride, while simultaneously grouping all Ghanaians as one. The church, despite its American location, proudly maintains its Ghanaian identity by conducting services in Twi, shows preservation of culture and religious freedom in the U.S.</p>

<p>The image captures a protest group in front of the White House rallying for a ceasefire in Gaza. This image exemplifies that community can extend through oceans. American citizens were supporting an end to the violence enacted on Palestinians in our nation&#8217;s capital even though most demonstrators have never been to Gaza. The care and empathy demonstrates that in the face of violence all people are united. People are not just citizens of their country &#8211; we all belong to a global community fighting for each other’s freedom.</p>

<p>This photo was taken with a group of friends my mom and I met throughout an 173 mile walk in Portugal and Spain. We celebrated our arrival at the end of our journey with a long festive night. I chose this image because it demonstrates that community and care can be found through shared experience, regardless of citizenship. Our humanity, our need for community and care, and our shared experience brought us closer than any passport or flag or national anthem could and in a technologically interconnected world we are able to maintain our community despite being thousands of miles apart. True community and care is not and should not be limited by citizenship.</p>

<p>I took this picture at the Holiday Parade on my way to soccer practice. I was in a rush to get to practice, but stopped and stared at the comical larger than life floats that were taking up entire city blocks. My eyes were drawn right to the floats, and my mind didn’t even register the volunteers that were battling the cold and wind in keeping the floats upright. At times we disregard and take for granted the important communities in our life, such as family, because we get distracted by things that ultimately will not end up being as important to us, the big Mr. Potato Heads and soccer practices of the world. </p>

<p>It was all over the news; it finally snowed more than an inch! I already knew Clark Park was going to be full of sledders, snowball fights, and snowmen and I joined them. There were people of all ages from the one year old bundled up in the stroller tp the grandfather sliding across the icy walkway. This grassy hill is just a square block, but out of it emerges a community that cares so well for each other. Clark Park is incredible at bringing people together who sadly might have otherwise been separate. Public spaces, specifically parks, are so important for the development of care in a community.</p>

<p>This ia an image of a corner grocery store in Germantown, Philadelphia. Germantown is the neighborhood I grew up in and this store is one that I have seen many times in my life. I’ve seen the exterior many times but I have never been inside. The exterior is what interested me when I took this photo, especially the graffiti on the side of the awning. The color contrast of black and yellow, the yellow against the evening gloom, along with the light illuminating the awning makes it instantly stand out to a passerby. It stands out at the center of the image against the gray background and the dim storefront. This is a corner store in a low-income area that clearly has not been cared for by its community. Although the graffiti seems to say 2022 it seems like something much older. The store has stayed open in this community for very long so it provides a service. It provides nourishment to the community but they do not care for it. The photo shows a lack of community in this area and care for this corner store as it is merely patronized. Vandalized years ago and never cleaned.</p>

<p>When I went to Senegal for the first time, I visited my father’s village, Joal and a nearby village called Sessene. The beach next door is used as a fishing port and on the array of boats you will notice that each has the name of the person to whom the boat belongs and its own flag attached to it, signifying where the owner is from. The majority have Senegalese flags, yet there are a few from other West African countries. Senegal has almost 84,600 full time fishermen. The community of fisherman and the care that goes into fishing provides the famous fish dishes that Senegal prides itself with. Fishing provides locals with jobs, food, and contributes to Senegal’s culture.</p>

<p>My sister and I argue a lot. We spent all winter break together and discovered that, despite our differences, we had similar perspectives.</p> <p>The neglected trash filled street and my sister’s isolation convey the lack of care in our individualist culture of America. However, despite American culture and my efforts to avoid my sister, she is the most influential person in my life. In spite of conflicts, family is a central pillar of community that endures and is essential to our survival. Still, I wonder if I would be closer with my sister if American culture were more family oriented?</p>

<p>Isolation is a devastating factor to teenage mental health. Winter darkness, a total shutdown from Covid-19, and the onslaught of social media as the sole form of contact escalated the isolation experienced by teens. High school introduces a rigor of work which further takes time away from socialization opportunities which are necessary to a balanced life. This spontaneous gathering, which is common among my friends, provides the serenity and love I need to keep going. A community of friends provides much needed solace for me and many other teenagers to function.</p>

<p>This photo represents the community and practice of Catholicism and the joys of being in an uplifting community. During the holidays, I grieve the previous losses of loved ones, however this community acts as a pillar. The Christmas lights represent the care and faith we rely on when life is hard. When my little cousin was diagnosed with cancer, I began to attend the weekly rosary at my church. Although she lost her battle, we continue to pray each week, and have faith in a cure. The community and care aspects of practicing religion exemplify the relationships one builds with people, who will always support you when you face life&#8217;s obstacles.</p>

<p>This photograph is of sugar cookies in the shape of the Star of David. This symbol of Judaism represents one community I am a part of. However, my family’s practices as Reform Jews look very different from other Reform Jews and the other branches of Judaism.<br /> The cream cheese icing I used here is a deviation from the kind of icing I typically use, which helped me to see that there is no wrong way to ice a cookie. Similarly, the diversity found within communities, similar to my own experience, helps me to learn more about myself.</p>

<p>In this image, my family and friends are celebrating a holiday tradition called the feuerzangenbowle. My dad is pouring rum over a sugar cone, melting it into a rum punch. As a social drink, this tradition exemplifies community and care because of its nature to inspire connection across families with conversations about life experiences. This tradition requires effort and care beforehand. My dad and I often prepare it together and it requires lots of coordination to turn it into something good, which is synonymous with a community. Without care, a community will fall apart. For a community’s success in unifying people, they must actively care and give back.</p>

<p>This picture was taken through the window of a Philadelphia public high school overlooking another part of the building. In the frame, there are 30 black-tinted, red-framed windows, 15 identical air conditioners, and approximately 100,800 of the same burgundy-red burnt-clay stained bricks. Everything in the picture is uniform: representing the uniformity of public schooling. In the US, every child must attend schools regardless of citizenship status. Nationality does not limit one’s right to education. Public schooling brings together cultural and ethnic ties and fosters a diverse community within these schools. Yet this picture is gloomy, which conveys the negative Philadelphian perception surrounding public schools. This perception makes Philadelphians look down on public schooling, destroying our universal sense of community.</p>

<p>This is a picture of an abandoned building right by my house. Although I have lived in my house for almost eight years, I have yet to see even the slightest change be made to this deserted property. I never really noticed this because, honestly, it never really bothered me. However, as my community and its well-being has become more significant to me, I have become more aware of things like this. I am not sure how long this building has been vacant or even who owns it. What I am sure of though is that this lack of change also indicates a lack of care in my community. My photo in particular has details worth noting. Those shattered glass windows represent a broken spirit in my community. The emptiness inside of the building is a symbol for an absence of citizenship in my community. Th0se wild-looking weeds contribute to the toxicity terrorizing my community. Through these observations, I now realize that making change requires a sense of care from the people inside of the community. Furthemore, if citizenship is not valued in a community, then it is impossible for that community to be improved upon.</p>

<p>This picture captures AASU dance practicing for the upcoming annual showcase, which is a culmination of the hard work and passion of Black students at Central. The violent racism of the past and present in America has fostered a community bonded by trauma, struggle, art, and resilience. This picture is demonstrative of the meaning of art, dance, and hip-hop to the African American community, as a site of care, resilience, and pride within that community. Dance is an art form built in self-expression, and for Black women in particular, it is a creative outlet of pain and joy. The passion and care with which we approach the showcase exhibits the best parts of belonging to the Philadelphia Black community in 2024. </p>

<p>The sense of community created by the presence of these flowers is shown through the care and presentation of the flowers themselves. Something as simple as people coming together and planting a garden in a park can develop into a distant, but nonetheless cohesive community.</p>

<p>In my family, we have made it a tradition to gather at my grandmother’s house for Christmas every year. This has been a tradition for over 30 years.<br /> This photo depicts my grandma’s living room during a typical Christmas gathering in my family.<br /> Since the arrival of African Americans in North America, maintaining community has been an important aspect of survival for Black people. Things like cookouts, church gatherings, block parties, etc, are a few examples of how Black people come together to connect with their community and share their culture. The gathering in my picture is one of these kind of events. My whole family comes together to exchange gifts, eat cultural food, and connect in a way many other cultures would not understand.<br /> When considering that in this country’s history, there was a time when African Americans were not considered people, it is clear that throughout America’s history, Black people have had no one to turn to but each other. Slavery and a long history of persecution have driven Black people in this country to depend on each other and stick together. Throughout history, being an African American citizen of the United States has been difficult, but out of the hardships, a beautiful and united community has emerged.</p> <p>This photo depicts my grandma’s living room during a typical Christmas gathering in my family.<br /> Since the arrival of African Americans in North America, maintaining community has been an important aspect of survival for Black people. My whole family comes together to exchange gifts, eat cultural food, and connect in a way many other cultures would not understand.<br /> Slavery and a long history of persecution have driven Black people in this country to depend on each other and stick together. Throughout history, being an African American citizen of the United States has been difficult, but out of the hardships, a beautiful and united community has emerged.</p>

<p>I took this photo before I boarded a train to Washington D.C. to tour a college campus.<br /> While going to college is exciting, it is daunting to leave the community that has shown me care my entire life. This community consists of my family, friends, classmates, and the city. My citizenship in this community has allowed me to experience generosity and authenticity. However, this view of the city is deceiving. From this far away, Philadelphia looks picture-perfect, almost futuristic. However, any member of this community knows this is a facade. As I think about my future in a new community, I further understand the complexity of communities like Philadelphia, and how some aspects are only visible to those within. </p>

<p>This is a picture of my friend at the pride parade in The Gayborhood, Philadelphia in 2023. This annual pride parade is an opportunity for people all across the city to join together and celebrate their own gender and sexual identity. I chose this image because it represents the safety and unconditional love within the LGBTQ+ community. The different flags in the image express the spectrum and unity of queer people. However many people do not have access to this safe haven. Despite living in a world filled with intolerant people, I happen to live in a socially liberal city, with parents who accept me and friends who understand me. While my friends and I have the ability to wave our flags with pride and express our identities publicly, there are many without this right. While I was at my grandmother&#8217;s house, my younger sister asked my grandma if there were pride parades in a suburb called Orchard Park. My grandmother laughed. This experience expanded my mind and made me appreciate my community even more. I&#8217;m grateful to live in a place and time, unlike my grandmother, where my sexuality is embraced and celebrated. </p>

<p>This is an image of my little sister practicing Shabbat on a Tuesday. My great-great-grandparents brought these candlesticks to America, hidden in a boat when they were chased out of the “old country” by antisemitic violence. I chose to capture this photo over my sister’s shoulder to give a first-person view and help viewers connect to the tradition.<br /> My ancestors did not have freedom of religion in their country. These same candlesticks which sit in our kitchen were incredibly dangerous and as such, they are emblematic of the reason my my ancestors escaped to America to be able to keep practicing Judaism safely. They represent the safety American citizenship brings.<br /> Shabbat is a tradition which belongs to the Jewish community. For thousands of years, Jews everywhere have celebrated it. Traditionally, Jews come together every Friday to eat dinner, light candles, and pray. For my family, this holiday is anchored in community. We only celebrate Shabbat when the entire family can be together. We don’t bake Challah, drink wine, and we only sing some prayers. We value community more. By participating in this tradition at all, we take part in Jewish community. These candlesticks represent the idea that one can participate in a community without compromising their values, and the safety to take part in community which citizenship brings.</p>

<p>This is an image of my mom and grandpa that I took in Brooklyn. We were on a walk during Thanksgiving Break, in Prospect Park South, where my grandparents live. At the time, I was drawn to the composition due to the warmth of the fall foliage in the background, as well as the intensity of the sun on my family’s faces.</p> <p>On family walks, my mom and grandpa are usually leaning in to discuss a book or play, or sometimes my mother’s work. Art and literature are universally important to the members of my family, so our shared interests provide community when we meet. The two subjects stay close together in the corner of the foreground, in contrast with the depth of space behind them. This suggests the emotional care that exists between them. On a path through the same neighborhood that’s been traversed almost every day for decades, my family knows the streets around them intimately. The neighborhood has changed significantly in the time that we’ve lived there, but, in a world with increasing isolation, the bonds within the family remain vital and unchanged.</p>

<p>This picture was taken at the Princeton Record Exchange. The Princeton Record Exchange has become characteristic of Christmas time in my family. Me, my dad, and brother bonded over searching the store. Having grown up frequenting the store, my dad passed the tradition on to us.<br /> The store houses all genres and attracts a wide range of people, all of whom share an appreciation of music and discovering it physically. Inside the store, It is clear that many of the patrons and staff know each other well. The store has a bustling energy. Everyone in the store’s care for music serves as a common value which brings people together.<br /> With the rise of music streaming, some music communities have moved online or disappeared altogether. Listening to music online feels easier in many ways, yet the record store<br /> is always packed. Exploring music in a physical space heightens the sense of community as it highlights shared values and provides a space for interaction. While the internet has dispersed people in many ways, it’s important that these spaces remain where people connect and find community over a shared interest.</p>

<p>This is a photo I took of my dog, Luna (third from the left), at the dog park with three of her newest friends. While these dogs barely know each other, they are able to enjoy each other’s company. This shows a community of belonging that was organically created through their companionship and mutual happiness.<br /> I chose this picture because it demonstrates a community&#8217;s role in having a sense of belonging. To be a citizen of this community is to care and trust one another. Without the division that is created through the man-made idea of “identity,” these dogs are able to find common ground as opposed to differences among them. After observing these dogs, we see the ways that an individual&#8217;s identity serves to define them, but also divide them. While identity allows you to be whomever you choose and create new communities, it also creates exclusivity. For example, the Democratic and Republican political parties are communities that have polarized the United States, and are used to define and alienate people. My dogs’ ability to welcome and care for others in her community with openness showcases how we as humans use identity as a way to create communities of division instead of belonging and care.</p>

<p>Photographed here is my extended family gathered around a blanket counting coins during a winter reunion. Every year, my uncle brings a massive jar of coins and the one who guesses the amount of money in it takes the jar home. On the left side of the image are my aunt and great-aunt, both are first generation immigrants from Korea. On the right hand side is a distant cousin of mine visiting from Korea; I had never met him before, and he doesn’t speak English. The single light source highlights each person’s features while the shadowy form in the foreground gives the viewer a sense of “peering into” the candid scene. Not everyone at this reunion is a United States citizen, and some don’t speak Korean while others don’t speak English. Despite these cultural and linguistic roadblocks, we are still a community, a family brought together by a collective effort to simply count the amount of money in a coin jar. Just as a community can be made of large groups with common interests, communities have the capability to be smaller, improvisational groups of people with different backgrounds and interests, temporarily united by a common goal. Additionally, one’s citizenship status does not bind them to a certain community or culture, as shown by my distant cousin.</p>

<p>This photo is me ice-skating at the Independence Blue Cross<br /> RiverRink at Penn’s Landing. I am the person in a gray jacket and gray sweatpants. My friend Rohan is on the right side of the photo looking at me. The photo showcases the big Christmas tree and the ferris wheel decorated with lights. It is not only just Rohan and I, there are other people just ice-skating around and having a good time. I chose this angle for the photo because it shows the perspective of someone ice skating during Christmas time. My photo links to community and care. For the community, it shows Philadelphia and how we can come together for the festivities. The ice skating rink is also a public space, which means that anyone from any background can come to skate. It provides an opportunity for the larger and diverse community to come together for a common goal. Philadelphia is not the best city out there, but this public space allows us to forget those problems and just enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. To go along with that, Christmas in America is for its extravagant decorations and the love that we have for each other.</p>

<p>In this photo, a baby is relaxing on her mother’s back as she sells palm oil. She is holding the finger of a buying customer. In contrast to Ghanaian society, American society would strain<br /> the “negative aspects&#8221; of this photo and comment on the mothers parenting and shame her for putting her daughter in such conditions. American society may interpret this as the mother being “unprofessional”. Americans may look at this photo and gasp because the daughter is in the heat and engaging with strangers. Not only that, they may characterize the mother as being careless for not putting the baby in front of her instead of on her back. However, when a Ghanaian sees this photo they find the beauty in this. They look at a mother who is struggling to make ends meet so she strives to provide for her households amid her condition. They see her strength as<br /> she is working in the heat but still carrying her child. The position of carrying the child on the back is a tradition that brings comfort to the baby and flexibility to the mother. The mother has a village of support behind her whereas women in America are often faced with raising their kids on their own, without support. Her motherly sense is very much there as she is aware of who her baby is touching. Although they are strangers, they are also a person who sees right through her<br /> and understands her situation. The community around her values her work and helps her financially. However, American women could not vouch for having the same supportive community because of how ignorant American society is to women. The thought of being able to work with their child is alarming to society as it demonstrates where their value lies. In America, maternity leave is often nonexistent or 12 weeks unpaid leave. The value is having employees produce and that value trump&#8217;s family life. The viewpoint on mothers depends on the society&#8217;s standards, this factor determines whether there is a community to care for these mothers and support their way of living.</p>

<p>This is an image of my mom, a high school English teacher, grading papers in her bed. Her image is bordered by a frame, revealing it is a reflection rather than a photo of her real person. The computer is the only source of light; without it, she would be concealed by darkness. If the screen were off, she would be undetectable but still exist as a real, concrete individual. He would also be free from the unwanted observation of us as viewers of this image. Her relationship with the screen feels personal but it turns her into some half-human, ghostly, framed spectacle monitored by the viewer. The frame solidifies her disconnect but is surrounded by others, suggesting that there is a larger network of isolated individuals, linked together by screen use, each individual isolated and being simultaneously observed by the viewer and their screens. This community lacks care; it is a collection of individuals who though co-exist are separated by frames. It&#8217;s only through her laptop that she can work at home, sometimes even late into the night. Too much labor is loaded onto her as a public school teacher who cares greatly about her students. Teaching from home during Covid was the first time I observed a disconnect between my mom and her students. Covid not only changed how student and teacher make contact but also the role of being a teacher. My mom was no longer focused on challenging her students and making critical thinkers but was playing a numbers game in a world that increasingly concerned with producing high achievers rather than solid citizens. Technology drains and isolates us, preventing citizens working to achieve a greater public good from connecting to their community.</p>

<p>This photo was taken along the Ben Franklin Parkway near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, depicting an array of cultural flags hanging on a cloudy day. On the right, among the most noticeable flags are the flag of Latvia, the flag of Lebanon, and the flag of Liberia, while on the left hangs the flag of Jamaica and the flag of Ivory Coast. In the background, the Philadelphia skyline – specifically, the Comcast Center, the Comcast Technology Center, and Three Logan Square – looms. </p> <p>The image shows a connection between community, citizenship, and care within Philadelphia, but simultaneously suggests this connection could be improved. The flags and their presence demonstrate care and respect for cultural citizenship within the greater community of Philadelphia, the city acknowledging the rich culture within its streets. However, these flags are trumped by looming, commercial towers in the background. This reveals care towards citizenship is not our nation&#8217;s primary concern, the flags appearing small and insignificant when compared to the towering skyscrapers, which mostly stand representative of American consumerism. Such an idea is further reinforced by the stormy, ominous, dark sky above, implying tensions exist around this care for culture and citizenship. The wide Ben Franklin Parkway, which takes up the lower third of the image, stands as a final symbol of the long road our nation must travel to ease these tensions, as to repair and strengthen the warped and overly vague connection that loosely exists between community, citizenship, and care.</p>

<p>I chose this photograph because it represents community and care within the POC demographic of the photography community. In this picture, you can see my close friend, Xiani Perez, and teacher, Mr. Kenneth Hung. I took this image in The Print Center, an art gallery here in Philadelphia, during a field trip for Central’s Bridge Program Photography Committee. This image stood out to me mostly because of the far-off and concentrated look on the subjects’ faces and their isolation from the rest of the group, as well as each other. When I shot this picture, I managed to catch them both in a natural state, which adds to the image’s representation of a genuine interest in photography. As a Puerto Rican photographer, I know how small the pool of photographers who are people of color is. Photography is a predominantly White field, which means that uplifting the voices of POC photographers is extremely important to me. This is why I chose to highlight the lonely feeling of what being a minority within a large community feels like. I took this picture from the perspective of a Latin photographer, recognizing another Latin photographer’s passion for photography. I’ve been involved in photography since I was in 6th grade, which is when my passion bloomed. From then, I’ve been continuously involved in the Photography Without Borders organization and Central’s own Photography Committee. I’ve developed a strong care for photography. I even went off to Colombia in the summer to teach young children photography. I continued to do this at Central, providing my help as a student-teacher for our committee’s freshmen. I believe I captured this passion for photography through Xiani’s gaze. The way she concentrates on taking in and analyzing the photography in the gallery shows our shared passion. This passion for photography connects me to my very own community of Latin photographers in Philly, who are like my family.</p>

<p>I took this photo on a bridge in Florence, Italy. At the foreground lies a metal person plastered with stickers advertising bands, stores, movements, and sports teams. </p> <p>This photo shows a community. A microcosm of unique stickers lay on the statuette, each one standing for something different. For example, the sign labeled “K100 FUEGOS” with the iconic hammer and sickle is from an Italian communist group advertising their twenty year anniversary. Here, an organization of people with a relatively uncommon political ideology celebrate their history, and commemorate their community of alike thinkers through public expression. Above it is a purple QR code, which takes curious observers to the website dedicated to a progressive political movement started in Florence that is gaining traction across Europe. Many other unique groups tell their own stories on the metal canvas, but they never overlap. Many stickers have space around them, as if there is a rule telling them to not overlap. But there isn’t. The stickers don’t overlap because each unique community respects and cares about what the other has to say. This metal statuette is a centerpiece of Florentine culture, a place where unique identities can collide with the desire for self-expression.</p>

<p>This photo is of a mural in West Philadelphia that depicts care and shows people in this diverse community caring for each other because they help each other out. During the summer, on the other side of this wall, another community flourishes. People from all over West Philly flock to the University City Swim Club, which represents the privilege of the wealthy. Club membership is expensive and exclusive. In contrast to the care and community captured in the mural, the wall itself separates people, defining borders between one West Philadelphia community and another, as club members enter on the opposite side of the block, and this mural remains out of their sight.</p>

<p>This is a picture of my former Karate Dojo, now converted into a health food store. I made lifelong connections, and established a well-knit community at the school. When it closed, I thought that was gone. However, I continued to meet up with my friends, connecting in new ways. This image shows that community and citizenship transcend physical spaces. Community is resilient; it thrives in the shared experiences and connections forged within those spaces. Citizenship is defined by more than geographical boundaries. Without a physical space, the members of my dojo remained citizens of our community by actively putting in the work to sustain it. Citizenship should be defined by a collective responsibility to sustain the well-being of a community, wherever it may be. </p>

<p>My photo focuses on the ‘friendship bridge’ in Chinatown. With issues such as gentrification arising in the area, citizenship extends beyond a privilege. It encompasses the shared commitment to preserving the heritage that defines Chinatown. The community garners more than individual responsibility, fostering a sense of belonging to the motherland.<br /> There is care for the people I bring here and the collective history. The interpersonal relationships curated with care are evident in the shared celebrations and mutual support in challenging times. The stories and wisdom passed down from elders nurture those who care to listen. Both residents and non-residents actively pursue the preservation of our neighborhood’s landmarks. Chinatown illustrates interconnectedness and shared dedication to a common heritage among Americans in Philadelphia.</p>

<p>This is a family dinner I attended with my family and friends to celebrate my father’s job promotion. This photo illustrates community and citizenship as it includes members who are a part of the Indian community including first-generation children and their parents who are now American citizens. These immigrants who worked extremely hard to become citizens and would not be underestimated, giving their children a better life with more opportunities. Today, they are able to sit in a restaurant freely without being discriminated against for the color of their skin. I am grateful that we currently live in a country where we can share our cultures with other citizens and be around people from different communities without worrying about feeling racially inferior to white people. </p>

<p>The image depicts my bubbie’s Hanukkah display including a menorah crafted by my sister. The decorations show the relevance of Judaism in our lives throughout the years with the menorah my sister made in elementary school included in the display. Each year, our family tradition involves a Hanukkah lunch and my bubbie’s care shines through her delicious food and thoughtful gifts. As the head of our family, she shows us the importance of the Jewish community within our family. This pride of Jewish identity is important to me because of how much my mom and bubbie care about being Jewish. Therefore, the efforts she puts in every year show her love for her family and the Jewish community.</p>

<p>My mother is Polish and my father is Puerto Rican. In the image, my niece Serena, who is Puerto Rican is gripping an Oplatek and preparing to start off the annual Polish Christmas Eve tradition called Wigilia. Once they exchange pieces of their Oplatek and an embrace, the rest of my family can join in.<br /> The juxtaposition of Serena’s black dress with my Poppop’s white shirt emphasizes the meeting between two very different ethnicities. My Poppop’s hand is outstretched towards Serena symbolizing reaching across the cultural divide. Wigilia has always been a celebration that unites my entire family into one blended community filled with people who care and love one another, regardless of their differences.</p>

<p>The image emphasizes the significance of both the subject and background in the photo. The story this photo tells is that each element of the photo can stand out and contrast with other elements, yet they still come together harmoniously. A strong community functions to create independent members. The purpose of community paradoxically can be to nurture people who can stand alone, instead of only bringing people together. This photo is emblematic of the real goal of community. The subject is a friend of mine who I rarely text, which confuses others. How can we be such good friends but not depend on one another? I would answer, “strong community creates people who can recognize their worth outside of it.”</p>

<p>Amidst the struggles inherent to a college prep high school, this math class—and the IB academic programme, more generally, emerges as a sanctuary of support and resilience, where my peers and I share difficulties and forge bonds. This photo shows that care for each other by portraying the encouragement to learn and grow exchanged among peers, fostering an environment where everyone feels supported in their education. Therefore, this single image encapsulates the essence of collective effort, community strength, responsible citizenship, and genuine care, painting a vivid portrait of our shared academic and personal growth.</p>

<p>Last summer, I lived in Barcelona for a Spanish immersion program. When I went through customs, I did not pay much attention to the significance of being able to pass through and enter a different country: if I were not an American citizen, I would not have the ability to travel to new places, and experience different cultures. Futhermore, as a foreigner, I was part of the minority, an experience which was new to me.<br /> This opened my eyes to what it meant to be an American citizen and of the communities that exist beyond my own. Where I am in the world does not influence the sense of community I have as an American, even though they may be different from my own.</p>

<p>The photograph depicts my family engaging in our annual board-gaming tradition of Mexican Train Dominoes over the recent winter break.<br /> When I was eleven, my twelve-year-old sister was admitted to the hospital with anorexia– an eating disorder that nearly cost her her life. Ever since I was young, my grandparents drove from Florida to Philadelphia every Christmas break to stay with us so we could celebrate the holiday together. However, this particular break was different, as my grandparents stayed additional weeks in Philly to care for my brother and me while my sister began her recovery at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). In her hospital room, we first played Mexican Train, a domino game that helped my sister pass the time and bring a bit of relief into her days.<br /> The photo links the care of my family to my sister’s community– us, her support system, something many people do not have the privilege to obtain. </p>

<p><em>Lancaster Central Market</em> has been at the heart of the city for hundreds of years and serves as a meeting point to support local farms and businesses, with a diverse representation of varying cultural cuisines. Market holds a special place in my life because I used to walk there with my grandma and serves as a reminder of the times we spent together. With growing consumerism in America, markets like this are becoming rare and the opportunity for personal connections is diminishing. This market sparks real connections, which one doesn&#8217;t get when shopping at a supermarket. Shopping at the Market, you feel as if you are part of something bigger, which we crave because of society&#8217;s lack of prioritization of community and care. These aspects draw people from all over the world to shop there. This diversity allows people to see themselves within the food stands, feeling represented within a greater community. This shows how a community is not dependent on who people are or where they come from, but from acceptance and celebration of one another within the community.</p>

<p>This plaza is bustling with people of all ages and backgrounds who congregate to read, play, and socialize. There is a Little Free Library, which represents community because it is stuffed with a selection of books reflecting unique interests. The fountain was previously enclosed behind a fence, but once removed, there was a transformation. These elements revitalized the area, bringing together local residents. Its transformation shows how restoring public spaces creates a stronger and more inclusive community.<br /> The Singing Fountain is free, accessible, and represents care because it provides a space for the mental and physical wellbeing of the neighborhood. People congregate to unwind and spend time outdoors, which is important in an ever divided country. Public places like this are crucial to a well cared for community.</p>

<p>In this photo, we can see my grandpa smiling happily in front of his birthday cake. This was on his 91st birthday. We celebrated by having a small gathering of close family and friends at my house. There was a large feast and Chinese<br /> themed cake.</p> <p>The way that my family celebrated my grandpa’s birthday showed a mix of my Chinese culture and American culture. Things like party hats and cakes are things that my community adopted from Western culture. Chinese people typically celebrate with a large feast consisting of dishes with some sort of cultural significance. This kind of celebration shown in the picture shows this mix of cultures within immigrant communities.</p>

<p>As a first generation Chinese-American, I have dual citizenship. I enjoy the rights of an American, yet play into a one-dimensional narrative of who a Chinese person is. This narrative is further perpetuated by Chinatown, a concentrated place of “Chinese culture” that is supposed to my whole culture. </p> <p>Though I have complaints about Chinatown, it does bring community together. Ethnic communities often are dual citizens and as a result, form their own communities, sticking together and caring for each other because they are of the same kind.</p>

<p>The photo I have chosen is one of the AASU (African American Student Union) Art division. In a time where a protest of police brutality can turn into violent rioting and looting in the Black community, these students get the chance to show the silent parts of our culture such as our art, music, and culture instead of the poverty and violence shown predominantly on the news. As an African American, AASU is a community I can rely on to show me that my community is something I can truly be proud of. </p>

<p>This is my bus stop I take to go to school. It stopped snowing two days earlier and was still at freezing temperatures. The spacing between the people suggest that they are strangers and are trying to keep their personal space.<br /> In a scene where each person is avoiding the other, the bus stop gathers these people to create a commuter community. The semi-enclosed bus stop evokes a sense of sheltering, protection, and comfort. The bus stop evokes the idea of citizenship as every person, regardless of their ethnic origin, is given access to public services. Here, the three people with different ethnic backgrounds are all receiving the same public benefit regardless of their background simply because they are all living under the same nation.</p>

<p>The pose stems from Spider-Man: No Way Home(2021), where three Spider-Men from different generations ended up in a multiverse, each of them an imposter. The picture depicts my teammates imitating the pose, symbolizing that their inclusion as female student-athletes in a historically all-boys school as imposters. The picture is important because it represents care and community&#8211; we are student-athletes in a school where women were once not allowed admission, let alone the ability to play a sport. The players featured here are acknowledging their coexistence in a world where we’re gradually attaining more freedom and comfort in our community. This sense of community gives me hope and the desire for our community to keep evolving.</p>

<p>The photograph displays members of my church at a Street intersection, collaborating with the nonprofit organization, The Table Ministry Inc. The Table Ministry and my church both did what they could to care for other members of the community who were not able to provide for themselves. This effectively communicates the idea of citizenship because when I think of what makes a good citizen, I think of people who go out of their way to be able to help those in need.</p>

<p>The <em>American Creed</em> multiplatform PBS content and engagement initiative is produced by <a href="https://citizenfilm.org/">Citizen Film</a>. For more than 20 years, documentary production company Citizen Film has collaborated with civic institutions and community-based organizations to create films and multimedia installations, and to help produce story-based public engagement campaigns that inspire reflection, discussion, and action and that foster community citizenship. Citizen Film’s work is guided by the belief that documentary work, crafted with care and dignity, can create culture and community and a more robust, resilient democracy. Their films, multimedia installations and other documentary initiatives engage audiences in civic spaces—from public media platforms to public libraries, schools, and museums.*<br /> *I copy-edited some punctuation &#038; stuff in this paragraph but if that&#8217;s a problem I can put the original back</p>

<p>Every year <a href="https://www.nwp.org/">Writing Project</a> teachers lead programs where teachers across the nation learn how to help youth research and form arguments, expand their learning beyond the classroom walls, and publish their writing about topics that matter to them.</p>

<p>We envision a future where society values care. To get there, society has to see care. </p> <p>At <a href="https://www.workingassumptions.org/">Working Assumptions</a>, we think in pictures. We remember in pictures. We make jokes in pictures. We talk in pictures. </p> <p>Strong pictures and good art feed us with energy and propel us. We love making things. We experiment. We let ideas emerge from photographs, and we don’t rush good ideas. </p> <p>We make art happen about work and family.</p>