Linnton Photovoice Project: Local Storytelling with Visual Evidence

First Step:

·        Consider the project themes: each Action Model workgroup could focus on their theme or category. Themes and categories were identified at the first meeting.

  Second Step:
·        Take photos in Linnton that you feel capture your community’s health concerns and/or strengths (for privacy considerations, try not to have people’s faces in the photos, or obtain consent first).

·        Either as a workgroup or individually, choose your top 5 photos you would feel comfortable discussing in a group and sharing more widely.

·        OPHD has funding for printing the ActionModel Photovoice photos. After taking photos, please submit the film or digital photos to Dawn so that they can be printed and formatted the same way. If you do not have access to a digital camera or film, contact Dawn* and we can provide you with a disposable camera.

Third Step:

·        Bring your top 5 photos to the March 17^th Linnton Action Model Meeting or email them to Dawn*.

·        Time will be allotted during the March meeting for the group to engage in reflection and dialogue around the photos. The group will help to choose the top one or two photos to write a narrative on.

 Fourth Step:

·        Writing the narrative: as a group or individually, write about what is happening in the photo, why you took the photo, and what it means to you and the health of Linnton

·        Questions to consider for your narrative:

o       What is the issue? Why is it an issue?

o       Why is the issue interesting or important?

o       Who is affected by this issue?

o       Where is it occurring?

o       When did the issue become evident?

 Fifth Step:

·        Bring the final narrative and photo to the May 19^th ActionModel meeting or email it to Dawn*

·        Talking points will be discussed in a group around the photos:

• What do we see here? What is really happening?
• How does this relate to our lives?
• Why does this problem or strength exist?
• How can we become empowered about this issue? What can we do about it?
• How can we present this to decision-makers?
• During the summer, the community will put together a  final project booklet of all the photos and narratives:

            a) Can be a part of the final ActionModel report

            b) Can display it in an art exhibit, in the Linnton Community Center, or in presentations

c) Can use the booklet to present to decision-makers (often a powerful tool for influencing funders)