First Exposures

Civic and Social OrganizationsUnited States11-50 Employees

• Our Mission 
First Exposures leverages the power of mentoring relationships and photography to empower young people to thrive, express themselves creatively, and become leaders in their communities.

• Our Vision 
We envision a world where creative expression and supportive relationships for young people are celebrated as a catalyst for change.

• About
As a nationally recognized youth photography and mentoring program, First Exposures strives to make a long-term impact on the lives of underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. First Exposures provides youth aged 11-18 the opportunity to engage with photography in a classroom with guidance from a photographer who serves as both a mentor and a positive adult role model. Many of our students have experienced difficult life circumstances and are in the process of stabilizing their lives. 

Photography is the catalyst by which our students acquire vital life skills and the vehicle through which we deepen their intellectual, academic, and developmental experiences. While learning to photograph, students are also enhancing their self-confidence, developing their personal vision, and cultivating their passion for learning. 

Since the program’s founding in 1993, over 95% of our students have gone on to pursue a college education. We reinforce our class time with time spent in experiential learning environments: visits to local newspapers, major museums, alternative art spaces, commercial photography studios, etc.

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