Silent Images teamed up with A Child’s Place, another Charlotte based non-profit organization, to identify the children and provide them this free photography summer camp. Patrick Cline, site director for A Child’s Place, said, “This summer we have had the benefit of partnering with a Silent Images. This is a first for our students and has proven to be a great fit. Most of these children had never heard the word photography before and many had never taken a picture. “Writing with Light” has opened up a new world to our students. They are not only learning about technical and artistic aspects of photography but are gaining insight about an interesting and productive hobby and potential career. This motivation for them to attend camp is more powerful than the dangerous temptations of the streets. This speaks volumes about the partnership between our camp and Silent Images.”

The children’s photographs will be printed and framed and will be featured in an exhibit called, Through Our Eyes, at Forest Hill Church in the fall. In addition to receiving the prints of their photographs, the students received their own photo album as a gift at the completion of the camp.

The students walked away knowing a new skill, but more importantly, the class empowered the students to tell their stories to the city of Charlotte. The exhibit will be an ongoing reminder to the city to recognize the hidden talents and potential in each child, especially those who are enduring homelessness.

Silent Images is very grateful for Speedway Children’s Charities and their willingness to fund this project that is empowering homeless children in the Charlotte area. This grant restored a voice to homeless children and is educating the city of Charlotte about the realities of child homelessness.

“There are at least 13 different nations represented right here in this complex,” one team member told me as we dodged soccer balls and kids chasing each other through the parking lot. “Most of them are refugees,” he said. “They’re struggling with learning English so we have volunteers that come each week to tutor the kids and help them learn English.”

My heart lept at the thought of so many different nations of the world all being represented in one tiny little apartment complex on the East side of Charlotte. More than that, though, I was overwhelmed by how strangely familiar it felt to be surrounded by beautiful children who don’t speak the same language I do or share the same cultural understandings I’ve been taught since my childhood. These kids are, in so many ways, stronger and tougher than I will ever be. They have to learn to adapt to this new land, new community, and new language that they now find themselves in. The beauty of it is that they will … and they’ll do it well.

When our time came to a close, I found myself wanting to find excuses to stay and start learning how to love the kids well. Giving back takes time, energy and investment … it’s a sacrifice, for sure. However, after spending just a few short hours with these precious kids who’s worlds have been turned upside down as they’ve moved across oceans, I can confidently say that it’s worth it. Every minute of it.

I can hardly wait until the next time I get to see their sweet faces.

On June 11, the Silent Images team offered a day of free photography to the women and their babies at the Charlotte Pregnancy Resource Center. We hope that the photos will celebrate the beautiful babies and the courageous women who have chosen life. With the mothers’ approval, we have posted some images of these beautiful mothers and babies. It was an honor for the Silent Images volunteers to be a part of such a fun and meaningful day. We hope these images remind everyone of the sanctity of life!

You can read more about the center at:
http://www.prccharlotte.com/default.htm

“Charlotte Through Our Eyes” celebrates the accomplishment of 23 local Charlotte youth. Silent Images, a local non-profit organization, partnered with Nexus Church to teach photography to inner city youth, many who are homeless or at-risk. Captured during the summer of 2009, these photographs show the children’s perspective as they explore the beauty of the city and the struggles of poverty. The gallery is currently hanging at the Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte.