BY KEVIN KLEVJER
Wow, this is really exciting! After over 2 years of working on this project, the SalaamGarage Seattle Local team (which includes many Artist Reformation volunteers) is finally going to put on an exhibition of all our hard work. So what is this project we've been working so hard on? Who is SalaamGarage?
SalaamGarage (SG) is a media group partnering with nonprofit organizations from around the world to create storytelling for positive social transformation. SG Local is a group of professionals dedicated to generating this change in their respective communities.
The Seattle and New York City chapters of SG have collaborated to tell the story of more than 20,000 young Americans who age out of foster care each year. SG is seeking publication of The Long Road Home: Aging Out of Foster Care, a narrative compilation by professional photographers, writers, journalists and videographers, and by those recently emancipated from the system–to those with decades of hindsight.
A few years ago, we learned about the nation’s 27,000 youth who annually age-out of foster care and nearly 40% of them are homeless. We were not ok with that. We wanted to meet some of these people and hear their stories, so we collaborated with some foster care agencies in Seattle who gave us access to people who've aged out. Now we need your help to share their stories.
Children under the care of the foster care system who are not adopted, “age-out” from the system and are therefore required to leave. The Long Road Home aims to give a voice to those who are seldom heard in this respect and to speak candidly about learning to live outside that care.
SG SEA, a team of about 20 volunteer media makers, has produced 8 stories of people who have aged out of foster care in Seattle. Each story consists of a unique combination of photography, video, audio, illustration and text. We are producing and installing a multi-media exhibition to be displayed at The Art Institute from May 1st to June 18th. The exhibition is composed of roughly 24 large-scale prints, text for each story, 2 illustrations by an artist, data visualizations of foster care in Seattle, and a video story as well.
After graciously being offered a free exhibition space by the Art Institute of Seattle, we sought additional support via a Kickstarter campaign and were able to reach 100% of our goal! Many thanks to all who gave so generously to make this exhibition a reality. Now we are working hard to have the exhibition ready for our opening night event.
Opening night of this exhibition will be a unique event and we invite all of you to join us and to invite your friends. Here are the event details:
THE LONG ROAD HOME: AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT IS ON MAY 1st, 2014
Pre-show: 6-7pm: VIP showing for media, SalaamGarage team, participants, and certain donors
7pm doors open to the public
8pm presentations by participants
At the Art Institute Of Seattle's Burnley Gallery
2323 Elliott Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
In case you have not already, you may RSVP for the upcoming event on Facebook.
To learn more about SalaamGarage or if you have any questions, please visit http://salaamgarage.com, or contact producers Amanda Koster or Cori G Keady.
Photo credit and content credit for this blog: the SG Seattle Local Team
