PICTURING MY CLIMATE FUTURE: HIGH SCHOOLERS VIEW THEIR WORLD TO COME

Today's youths have effectively been marginalized in the national conversation around climate change. But even as they did not cause the crisis, they will be paying the price for the sins of their elders.  By asking high-schoolers to picture how the rapidly evolving climate will impact their world years from now, SFO aims to amplify their views.

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A proof-of-concept was conducted at Maine's Cape Elizabeth High School in the spring of 2023.  Four students participated. As no photography instructor or sophisticated equipment was available for this effort—our former instructor having been recruited by the NYC probation agency hosting our criminal justice initiative to direct the now permanently institutionalized program—the quartet was provided with a resource for taking their photography skills up a notch and then set loose in the community with their smartphones.  One participant was filmed during his expedition, which was covered by the local media. From November 2023 through January 2024, Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth hosted an exhibit of the self-captioned photographs in connection with the town's effort to develop a Climate Action Plan.

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In view of this success, a full-scale effort project got underway during the 2024-25 school year. We partnered with Everyday Climate Champions in the Bay Area and It's Our Future in Chicago to recruit students beyond Maine's borders.  An exhibit, a publication, and a film are the intended outputs. Support has been graciously provided by The Zain Jaffer Foundation, The Puffin Foundation, and the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation.

 

The film teaser in and of itself was named Best Short Documentary by the Florence Film Awards, the Paris Film Awards, and the London Movie Awards. The first gallery exhibit is occurring at Thomas Memorial Library in June 2025.

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SFO was inspired by previous efforts around the world to leverage participatory photography in the service of combating climate change.