The Portland Metro Photographic News

by Tom Hubbard, PMPN, May 1, 2009

Tucked away inconspicuously on the basement floor of the Water Avenue Commerce Center is a rather remarkable youth dedicated organization, Portland's Focus on Youth.  An even more driven and energetic Executive Director, Donna Holmes, heads the group.  Meeting Donna and learning about the Focus on Youth project is much like being caught in the middle of a tornado of enthusiasm.

Focus on Youth has been putting cameras in the hands of at-risk youth for the past six years and pairing them with area photographic mentors.  Through one-on-one partnerships with professional photographers, Portland's youth are able to learn the art of photography in a positive, nurturing and completely supportive environment.  In the end, this focused mentoring and shared photographic experience enhances these at-risk students' employment opportunities while, at the same time, expanding their educational, artistic and recreational options.

Over the past year, Beam Development has constructed and donated 1,800 square feet for a permanent classroom, studio and darkroom facility on Water Avenue in southeast Portland.  The space includes ten darkroom workstations and an excellent portrait studio complete with donated electronic studio flash equipment and backgrounds.

Focus on Youth's mission statement says it all.  Our Mission is to keep at-risk inner-city teens on the path to graduation using mentoring and media to inspire and empower them to achieve academic excellence.

The race and cultural mix at Focus on Youth is rich and diverse.  The bonds between these students are enriched by the very short list of rules they live by at Focus on Youth:

• We greet each other with a smile and a handshake to strengthen the relationship between us.
• We value others and ourselves and we respect boundaries.
• We honor and respect each other, and we address one another with proper language and speech.
• We value our culture, and we hold the cultures of all people in high regard.
• We strive to reflect our beauty both inwardly in our understanding and outwardly in appearance.

Not a bad list for all of us.

And it works.  Focus on Youth has a demonstrated record of success with high-risk, culturally and ethnically diverse youth, and a proven track record of keeping youth on the path to success.  Focus on Youth inspires hope by helping build the confidence, self-esteem and cooperative spirit required for our youth to succeed in life.  The program and its successes have caused educators and administrators alike to visit the facility and experience first-hand the dedication, energy, philosophy and photographic education that motivate and inspire the students Focus on Youth serves.

Volunteer mentors come from photographers who are members of The American Society of Photographers and The Portland Metropolitan Photographers Association.  Each photographer gives time and expertise to enrich the students' photographic experience -- giving back to the community that has been the source of their livelihoods for decades.

Exhibits of the works of the Focus on Youth students have been displayed throughout Portland including at the Blackfish Gallery, Umpqua Bank in Pearl, Talisman Gallery, East Bank Commerce Center, Olympic Mills and City Hall.  The current Focus on Youth Exhibit titled "At-Risk Youth Unique Perspective" was on display at Q Center from April 4th to April 30th.  The Portland Metro Photographic News will begin hosting an online gallery display of these students' art in the Student Gallery section next week.

Money and equipment are the day-to-day operational challenges that Donna and her volunteer board face.  As you know, there is no federal "bail out" money for arts education.  Talk about personal commitment.  As a single-handed effort to help high-risk students, the entire operation began with the money Donna was able to obtain by taking a second mortgage on her home.  All of the equipment has been donated and funding comes from an all-too-small pool of community-oriented sponsor companies.  It's a constant struggle.

The biggest part of that struggle has been in allowing the students to experience and learn digital photography.  The school does have a couple of PC and Mac workstations, but not nearly enough.  Only a few basic "point and shoot" cameras are in the school's inventory  Digital imaging software is equally challenging.  Freeware is, in many cases, the only affordable source.  Considering the evolution of photography, being able to provide exposure to digital photography education (as well as to the hardware and software) is vital towards equipping these students for any career in photography.

It would seem a good time for the Portland photographic community to step up and support a program that not only serves our youth but gives you the opportunity to provide a meaningful contribution to a talented and appreciative group of young Portland students in need of a helping hand.

Here is a list of the "urgently needed" equipment and supplies for Focus on Youth:

• Digital cameras
• Memory cards
• Camera batteries
• Frames for photographs
• Color laser printer
• Laptop computers
• Office supplies

This equipment certainly doesn't need to be new, but it should be relevant to current technology.  Of course, monetary donations are always welcome to help with the purchase of educational equipment and supplies.  And, ALWAYS, volunteer mentors are needed.

Mentor Mark Fitzgerald (left) with Director Donna Holmes

If you have equipment or money that could find a much appreciated home at Focus on Youth, here's the contact information.

Contact: Donna Lee Holmes,  50..., Focus on Youth Director

Email: focusonyouth@gmail.com