Our Lens, Our Voice is a photography and poetry project that reframes and refocuses narratives of justice-impacted youth ages 14-17. Photographer Emily Baxter and poet Soteria Shepperson will guide participants in self-expression through imagery and written word, culminating with a public exhibit at the Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough. All cameras and supplies are provided to participants.
Our Lens, Our Voice will take place October through December, 2020. It will include three virtual or in-person sessions with the artists throughout the project period.
Eligible applicants include youth ages 14 to 17 impacted by the justice system, including, but not limited to, being charged in the juvenile or adult criminal justice systems or having a parent or guardian incarcerated. Applicants must be Orange County residents and must have parent or guardian consent to participate.
To apply, please fill out and submit this referral form or contact cfenhagen@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2303 by 5pm on Sunday, November 15.
This project is presented by the Orange County Arts Commission and Criminal Justice Resource Department, in collaboration with Soteria Shepperson and Emily Baxter, with support from the Fund for Southern Communities.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Soteria Shepperson is a poet, educator, performer and advocate. Through her work in prisons, homeless shelters, and local community colleges, she helps marginalized individuals find their voices through words and self-expression. As a reentry specialist, she assisted former incarcerated individuals adjust to society, connecting them with resources such as housing and job support and using creative expression to help them redefine their story. Soteria has performed at venues including the International Civil Rights Museum, the Carolina Theatre, Red Hat Amphitheater and the Raleigh Convention Center. She was a featured performer at the 2019 and 2020 Women’s March in Raleigh, NC. She is co-founder of Grow Your World, a nonprofit organization focused on youth-driven community engagement, grounded in the belief that equity and access create a win-win-win for people, community, and the planet.
In January of 2019, Soteria launched I AM SOTERIA & FRIENDS, which seeks to elevate suppressed creative voices of the world and contribute to the movement of equity, hope, and justice for all. Since its launch, the series has featured five events focused on the themes of Unity & Justice, Juneteenth, and Hip Hop and how they relate to the world as a whole.
Emily Baxter is the founder and director of We Are All Criminals (WAAC), a photo and story-based catalyst for conversations about race, class, privilege, and punishment. Prior to this, Emily served as the director of advocacy and public policy at the Council on Crime and Justice and as an assistant public defender representing members of the Leech Lake and White Earth Bands of Ojibwe. She is an activist and photographer, working with families, community groups, and national organizations to highlight injustices and amplify the voices and stories of people most impacted by our criminal legal system. Emily lives in Durham where, in addition to her work with WAAC, she serves as the director of the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, in recognition that our legal system will never be just so long as death is on the table.
