JAX2025 vision includes girl power

Posted on May 8, 2013 By Editor Junior Residents

Lanera King and Lindsey Schelgel wanted to be photographed together as best friends, and to state that they want ‘no bullying’ in their vision of 2025

Avondale photographer creates voice for the vision

Ortega resident Laura Evans has no idea what to expect when this project is over, but she’s looking forward to seeing what the girls come up with. Evans, with Evans-Ronan Design+Photography in Avondale, is the technical liaison for the Jax2025 Vision PhotoVoice exhibit sponsored by Girls Inc.

Seventy-two girls, ages 8 to 13, are participating in this year’s project. All of the girls are a member of Girls Inc. and attend their afterschool programs. Many of them are considered at risk which means the girls attend Title I schools, are ethnic minority and are from low-income families.

“I became involved with the PhotoVoice project because it’s a fantastic way for girls to explore who they are and express who they want to be through the medium of photography,” said Evans.

With Evans’ help the girls are taking pictures based on how they envision Jacksonville will be in the year 2025. The girls first submitted Kid’s Surveys to JCCI for the JAX 2025 Vision Project. Then, the girls were each provided with a disposable camera for PhotoVoice.
Beth Clark, president of Girls Inc., said the girls are really embracing this project, and she’s impressed by the creativity she’s seen so far. “The girls put a lot of thought into their photos. The 2025 Vision for one of our 3rd grade girls is to stop littering, find homes for homeless and stop crime,” said Clark.

The top 25 photographs will be on display and the top three will be given awards at the Girls’ Rights Week reception on May 16 at the Haskell Building. The Girls Inc. PhotoVoice project will also be displayed at the reception and again at the JAX 2025 Release Event on May 18 at the Everbank Stadium.

For info about Girls Inc., the Girls’ Rights Week reception and the PhotoVoice project, visit www.girlsincjax.org or call (904) 731-9933.

By Cristin Wilson
Girls Inc. of Jacksonville