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Critical Exposure Wins SVCF Seed Grant; Helps

Raise $100 Million in New School Facilities Funds

March 5, 2005 -- The Social Venture Capital Foundation today announced the award of a $1500 general operating support seed grant to Critical Exposure, a project of Community Law in Action, Inc.

Critical Exposure was formed in response to the dramatic disparities that exist between public schools. In a country where equality of opportunity is one of the most cherished ideals, citizens continue to ignore, tolerate, and even defend a two-tiered system of public education. Those who suffer most from this inequity – students trapped in dilapidated, overcrowded and under-funded schools with poorly trained and underpaid teachers – deserve an opportunity to tell their story.

Critical Exposure provides these students with tools – cameras and film, pen and paper, training, and exhibit space so that they can show the impact of educational inequity through their own eyes and engage the community in a dialogue on the need for school reform.

Thus far, Critical Exposure, working in conjunction with Kids on the Hill, another SVCF grantee, and other partners (Baltimore Youth Congress, Safe and Sound's Youth Ambassadors program, Crossroads Middle School) has provided cameras and training to over 60 Baltimore City students in order to help them to document the impact of under-funding and the disparities that exist in their public schools.
These photographs, along with narratives from the students and some basic policy analysis, will be used to create a traveling exhibit and other materials in support of campaigns to secure adequate and equitable funding for all Baltimore City schools. Critical Exposure has secured several Baltimore-area sites at which to exhibit the students’ photographs and narratives: the 1448 Gallery in Washington Hill, the Village Learning Place in Charles Village, and City Hall. The photographs will also be featured in the upcoming “Baltimore Youth Speak Out on Education” to be held at Loyola College and organized by the Youth Media Advocacy Coalition.
Upon completion of this project, Critical Exposure will prepare a report or presentation summarizing the outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned from initial work in Baltimore and detailing plans for expansion to other communities and/or other states.

Impact Update: On April 1, 2005, Critical Exposure presented its first gallery showing of the photography of the students of Baltimore at 1448 Gallery. On April 19, 2005, the exhibit received major publicity from the Baltimore Sun in a story entitled, "Picturing Their Lives." Congratulations from the Social Venture Capital Foundation on a great start for Critical Exposure!

Impact Update: Even more impressively, Critical Exposure photographs played a major role in achieving a $100 million increase in the funding from the Maryland legislature for school facilities improvements. One of the sponsors of this proposal was so impressed that he circulated the photos, stories, and statistics resulting from the exhibit to every senator on the Budget and Taxation Committee. The Critical Exposure photos, statistics, and statements from students made the difference in 2005. This year a significant increase in funding for public school facilities improvements was achieved, thanks to Critical Exposure and its support to the lead partners that advocate quality education for all students.

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Hope for Henry Opens Third Hospital Partnership

April 2005 -- The Hope for Henry Foundation, a 2003 grantee of the Social Venture Capital Foundation, this month opened its third partnership with a leading hospital specializing in treating life threatening children's diseases. The new partnership was with Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Earlier partnerships have been established with Georgetown University Medical Center and with the University of Minnesota Fairview-University Medical Center in Minneapolis. Under these partnerships, Hope for Henry Foundation expects to provide gifts to more than 400 children being treated at these hospitals in 2005.

As a result of these and other efforts, Hope for Henry Foundation's co-director, Laurie Strongin, won a 2005 Crest of the Wave Award from Fannie Mae Foundation and arranged for Hope for Henry Foundation to receive the prize. Congratulations, Hope for Henry Foundation and co-directors, Laurie Strongin and Allen Goldberg!

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Beyond Talent Achieves Matching Grant Goal,

Wins Additional SVCF Grant Support

April 16, 2005 - Beyond Talent, the DC person to person mentoring and education achievement support program led by Ellie Phillips, was today awarded an additional $1,500 grant from the Social Venture Capital Foundation. This is Beyond Talent's second SVCF grant. This grant recognizes the fund raising accomplishments of the organization as well as its early, but dramatic programmatic successes. Click here for examples of the success stories being achieved by Beyond Talent enrollees.

"Beyond Talent has made very giant strides for a new organization," said SVCF President, Jeff Schwartz, "and we awarded this grant in recognition of the continued achievements of Beyond Talent and its dedicated mentors and mentees."

Congrats, Beyond Talent and Ellie. Job well done!

To learn more about Beyond Talent, click here for the web site.

2004 -- click here to learn more about SVCF Awards and Accomplishments in 2004.

2003 -- click here to learn more about SVCF Awards and Accomplishments in 2003

2002 -- click here to learn more about SVCF Awards and Accomplishments in 2002

2001 -- click here to learn more about SVCF Awards and Accomplishments in 2001.

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