For its fourth year, the Walpole Prevention Coalition (WPC), under the MassCALL3 substance prevention grant, is introducing a design for students to learn about substance abuse issues in their communities: a Photo Voice project. With the last one being completed in 2020, the project aims to prevent, reduce and educate students on the impact of substance use in their hometowns. Through utilizing images and words, students are granted the freedom to express what is true to them about their community experiences to encourage an active change and strive for reform where it is needed.
Photo Voice is a creative method of obtaining photos through photography and collecting ideas to represent community voices. This method aims to empower individuals to become active in reforming and reflecting on their communities. For Walpole students, the project will focus on photographing and writing various prompts, such as places they enjoy spending time at, or places where they have witnessed substance use. Representing and capturing both the pros and cons of a town will allow those involved to reflect on how substance use has affected their communities and why they would appreciate a change.
The goal of the project is to educate high school students in regards to positive community norms and substance use using a creative outlet. This project will allow students to better understand how substance use impacts their community and their own lives as students. Through using an outline that incorporates photography, students are able to explore these issues and capture their environment through the lens of substance use and positivity. Potentially, the project could serve as a baseline to help reinforce policies that community members want to see improved.
“I like to think of positive community norms as sharing things in an optimistic light,” Youth Engagement Intern, Natascha Nussbaum said, “which is important because the way people perceive a community norm will influence their own behavior.”
With five short meetings, those who would like to participate do not need any prior photography experience. Participants will follow various prompts to discuss and photograph their community. Ultimately, the students involved will display their work and findings with an end of project gallery walk and a reflection on what they have captured and learned through the project. By completing this assignment, one can gain 16 community service hours and even receive gift cards, with a minimum value of $25. Food will be provided at these meetings as well, and meetings will be hosted locally in Dedham, Needham, Westwood and Walpole. Those involved will strive to foster a positive and lasting change in their community. The dates are currently to be determined, and will be established to fit the interested students’ needs. To learn more about this organization or specific project, those interested can email Youth Engagement Intern from the Needham Public Health Division, Natascha Nussbaum, at [email protected].
