Exploded Frustration is the title of a photograph showing a bus window shattered by a bullet that appears in “Strength To Be: Community Visions & Voices” by the Flint Photovoice project.

“ I can tell that the bus I ride [to school] is always different because the bullet holes are always in different windows…This violence exists because people don’t know how to deal with hardships and anger. They think it’s easier to rob people for money or shoot when they are scared. But in the long run, it is much harder. We need to give people positive confidence somehow…”

~ Eric Dutro, 17-year-old Photovoice participant

Most of the black-and-white photographs in this University of Michigan book were taken by young people, but policymakers were among those community leaders also recruited to participate. The impact of these visuals together with candid commentary convinced Michigan decision makers to dedicate money for local violence prevention programs.

Chronic lack of funding for urban schools is another fact of life yet speeches and statistics typically fail to get the attention of the powers-that-be. Critical Exposure embarked on advocacy campaign to document the good, the bad and the ugly in Baltimore City public schools and got taken seriously.

• Some sixty 3rd to 12th graders received 35mm "point-and-shoot" cameras with black & white film and learned the basics of documentary photography.
• Training also included writing exercises to illuminate the images captured by the students and how the school conditions affected their education.
• A toilet with only half a toilet seat, a sign warning “Don’t Drink the Water,” a broken heater were among 1,500 photographs that also included a mural, science projects and other positive images.
• Fifty photos were selected for an exhibit that traveled to two art galleries, a public library/community center, the Baltimore City Hall and Loyola College. Over 2,000 people, including the chief executive of Baltimore Public Schools, attended these events which featured the photographs and the students themselves. Baltimore Sun, National Journal and other media outlets covered this student initiative.
• Students then took their photographs to the Maryland State Legislature during the debate on legislation to provide $250 million for deferred maintenance of school facilities. The bill’s sponsor was so impressed with the students’ work that the lawmaker distributed copies of their photographs to every member of the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee.
• The 2005 Maryland General Assembly increased overall funding for school facilities by $100 million even though the bill itself did not pass. According to legislators and the Maryland ACLU, the primary partner in this campaign, student photographs and testimony were critical in obtaining this funding.

  “As a legislator from Baltimore City, I believe that the compelling photographs and testimony from students working with Critical Exposure were an important factor in convincing my colleagues to support increased funding for public schools. In fact we were able to triple the amount of money we received this year in Annapolis thanks in great part to their efforts."

  - State Senator Nathaniel McFadden

Critical Exposure continues to work with students in Baltimore and is launching a project in Washington, D.C. and several other cities around the country. This remarkable campaign demonstrates the importance of ‘Speaking Truth to Power Using Powerful Images.’ Adding to the success was the variety of venues where the students talked about their photographs that attracted large crowds and the news media. And Critical Exposure, along with other advocacy groups fighting against inequitable funding for public schools, made certain this visual storytelling got attention at the state capitol. There is no substitute for face-to-face interactions with elected officials because young people—especially those not yet old enough to vote—have the unique ability to shame or motivate the powers-that-be.