using photography to expose the social impacts eXposed of poverty and racism in Black Creek a photovoice project by residents of Black Creek Acknowledgements About ‘Exposed’ Photovoice Project The ‘Exposed’ Photovoice project is a community- false sense of safety and security. Photo-researchers This project would not have been possible without the based, arts-informed research project conducted in also captured the ‘neglect’ and disinvestment in successful collaboration and support of numerous community 2008 by the Income Security, Race and Health (ISRH) the Black Creek area by government agencies and members, advocates, volunteers and organizations. Our warm research working group of Toronto. The main goal of their failure to provide adequate garbage collection thanks to our generous funders: Metcalf Foundation, The the project was to use an arts-based research method services and properly maintain public spaces and Wellesley Institute, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Arts called photovoice to ‘expose’ the social impacts of facilities in the neighborhood. The deteriorating Council. Thank you to Black Creek Community Health Centre poverty on low-income families. The project was and substandard condition of housing in the for providing child care and meeting space, and to Working located in Black Creek – a low-income area located in neighborhood is also highlighted through the Women Community Centre for their support in recruitment the north-west inner suburb of Toronto. photos and narratives. Photo-researchers also made and arranging space in Seneca College to hold our weekly innovative use of photos and narratives to express photovoice sessions. Special thanks to Mohamed The Exposed photovoice project was led by Ruth what certain signs in the neighborhood mean to Abdelrahim, Community Outreach Worker for the Exposed Wilson and Dr Yogendra B. Shakya from Access them, capture ‘hidden borders,’ and geographical Photovoice project, who provided invaluable support during Alliance and Dr Sarah Flicker from York University. expressions of the inequalities and discriminations the recruitment, data collection and dissemination phases We recruited 14 residents of Black Creek to be ‘photo- that they face. of the project. Rodrigo Moreno lent his photography skills researchers’ for the project. Each photo-researcher was to the project, teaching community members photographic provided with a digital camera and received training in This photobook captures the diverse perspectives techniques and acting as a mentor throughout the data photographic techniques and in photovoice method. that different residents have about important collection process. Seon Kyen (SK) Kim and Jiha Kim Renowned Toronto photographer Rodrigo Moreno issues such as gangs and safety or different generously volunteered their time and analysis to the project provided the photography training and mentoring, landmarks in the community. For example, several as facilitators and offered valuable feedback and support to serving as Photographer-in-Residence for the project., photo-researchers perceived York University as an the photo-researchers. Over a period of 9 weeks, the 14 photo-researchers institution that does not try to connect with the Black took photos related to the research project, analyzed Creek community despite its geographical location. Our special thank you to Theon Harrichand (Access Design) and discussed their photos in the weekly photovoice In contrast, another photo-researcher talked about for doing such beautiful layout and design for this photobook. group discussion sessions, and wrote narratives for how every time she sees York University it brings her Theon also provided valuable support in project evaluation, relevant photos. The title of project ‘exposed’ was also a sense of hope and joy because her son is currently data analysis and writing. selected by peer researchers involved in this project. studying at the university. In fact, we found that the photovoice sessions provided a creative platform for Finally, we’d like to give special recognition to all of the Note: All text accompanying the This photobook is a compilation of some of the key inter-generational and inter-community dialogue on photo-researchers. This book is a reflection of their artistic photos consists of words from photos and narratives produced by these 14 photo- key issues that affect the community. visions, thoughtful analysis, and courage to expose the social project participants, from one-on- researchers. The photos and narratives produced by impacts of poverty and racism in Black Creek. We dedicate this one interviews, group discussions or the photo-researchers offer a nuanced, multilayered, More importantly, as a way to challenge the negative photobook to them. written narratives. Text attributed and rich picture of the everyday realities of living in portrayal of Black Creek by mainstream media, all to “Photo-researcher” is taken from a low-income neighborhood in Toronto. For example, the photo-researchers expressed strong interest The photo-researchers involved in this project include: either a group discussion or an photo-researchers combined photos and narratives in using photovoice to document community anonymous interview. to document everyday challenges associated with strengths and community knowledge in Black Creek. Ann Moses, Anne Marie Chow, Anthony Harvey, Brian Durson, safety and security issues associated with living in a This photobook thus begins with the section on Celena Knight, Dorigen Appiah-Kubi, Htay Win, Muzna low-income neighborhood. The photos and narratives community strengths. Rehman, Rui Zhao, Safy Abouzaid, Samira Ahmed, Say Les, highlight that increasing surveillance cameras, police Sha Me Ri, and Stanley Muddah. presence and private security companies provide a 4 What is Photovoice? Photovoice is an arts-based research method I would say that, my eyes have opened even more that combines the visual documentation powers so to photo, to print, to words that I see. Like there of photography with the explanatory insights of are some things that obviously grasp you and some reflective narrative. Arts-based research methods like things you pay no attention to. But I found that I have photovoice are gaining popularity among researchers a heightened sense now of paying attention to every for many reasons. First, using arts-based methods advertisement. Everything that I see now I feel like like photovoice can make research more accessible, I have to rethink about, wonder, you know, is that creative and fun. Second, combining photos and really it? It has opened my eyes and I also ask my narratives can help to produce high-quality findings kids as well. Before commercials was that time that that cannot be captured by conventional methods you go to the washroom; now we’re discussing the of research. Third, arts-based research methods like commercials: what does that mean? It’s just opened photovoice facilitate sharing findings more widely in our eyes to think more outside of the box of what’s accessible formats (such as exhibits and photobooks going on around us our surroundings. You know what like this one). Also, there is a growing track record of to take in, what to leave out, what’s good for us, and photovoice research leading to positive what’s not. So that was my enlightenment and I’ve service or policy change. For example, another brought that unto my kids and now they reflect it photovoice project conducted by Dr Sarah Flicker with back to me that they’re aware now. Before when I was youth in social housing in Toronto documented how taking some photos I used to take a lot of photos of lack of good lighting in the hallways and premises of like babies or babies with their mom and stuff and their buildings made the building unsafe; this finding then that was just it. Oh yeah, that baby looked cute led to Toronto Community Housing Corporation in the picture and that was kind of it, but now it’s (TCHC) to add more lights within TCHC housing like this whole world of advertisement and things out premises. there, messages you know and stuff so now I’m just Sha more aware I have more of an awareness of my whole We believe that photo-researchers from this ‘Exposed’ environment. photovoice project have managed to capture important findings about the everyday realities and -Photo-researcher challenges of what it is like to be a person of color living in a low-income neighborhood in Toronto. My Story We will be sharing these findings widely, and using these findings to mobilize relevant service and policy I am a Karen from Burma. I was born in Burma but I was brought up in a Karen refugee camp located on the Thai-Burma improvements on issues that have been highlighted border. I don’t remember my life in Burma since I was very young when we came to the camp. I spent by whole life in the camp by the photo-researchers. In our evaluation of the before coming to Canada. One day a resettlement worker came and announced the opportunity for this workshop. So I joined photovoice project, photo-researchers mentioned the project. In the future, I want to be a photo journalist reporting the news about Karen people to the world. Millions of Karens many benefits from being involved in the project. The are now suffering inside of Burma and not many people know about it. This project inspires me to become a photo journalist. following are some quotes from photo-researchers regarding their experience being involved in the -Sha Exposed photovoice project. 5 6 About the Income Security, Race and Health Why Black Creek? Research Working Group The Black Creek area is a composite of four Canadian census data, in addition to many other studies identity” and in their experiences of inequality and neighborhoods (Humber Summit, Humbermede, highlights that, compared to people from European discrimination. Racialization is the process by which Black Creek, Glenfield-Jane Heights) located in the backgrounds, ‘people of color’ (racialized communities) racial categories are constructed as different and unequal northwest inner suburb area of Toronto.