The PhotoVoice Project held an in-person photo gallery viewing last Thursday in Needham Common. The featured photos were taken by high school students from Dedham, Needham, and Norwood.

The project, coordinated by Needham Health Department Youth Engagement Coordinator Zendilli Depina, is a collaborative youth initiative. Its goal is to employ photography and group dialogue as a means to deepen understanding of a community issue or concern. This particular event featured photos based on the impacts that drugs and substance abuse use have on a community.

Rows of photos were lined up on stands around the Common for the public viewing. Following safety guidelines, observers were able to walk through the gallery while absorbing the emotions portrayed in the photographs.

Some photos showed empty cigarette boxes, discarded nips, and old e-cigarettes littered about the ground. Other photos showed images from the photographers’ homes, such as parent wine collections and homemade bars.

“We’re seeing what the youth of these communities are exposed to, whether it's in their homes, on the street, or at the park; it’s everywhere,” Depina said.

Since the message of the image was paramount, no names were credited to the photos. But each photo was presented with words describing what people were seeing.

The project has inspired Depina to continue. She is currently looking into doing a clean-up initiative in order to prevent younger kids from coming across substance paraphernalia on the streets.

“I want to do something in each town to make sure kids aren’t exposed to such things at young ages.”

PhotoVoice has been around since 1992. It was created by Caroline C. Wang and Mary Ann Burris. Since then, it has spread throughout the world and has taken many forms. In the towns of Dedham, Needham, and Norwood, the project has become a source of inspiration and power for its students.

This past year, 250 photos were taken. There were over 50 students from three towns who participated in Depina’s branch of the PhotoVoice Project.

The PhotoVoice staff is working to do another viewing in Dedham and Norwood in the upcoming months. Depina is planning on continuing this project in early 2021. If any readers are interested in participating next year, or have any questions concerning the project, you can email Depina at zdepina@needhamma.gov.

Theresa Stronach, class of 2023, is the Editor-in-Chief of the Dedham Mirror. She also competes as a Marauder on the field hockey, ice hockey, and softball teams, and is a member of the Performing Arts Company at DHS.