Seeking Partners

In our first book, The Story of Foster Care vol. 1, we invited people into the intricate world of foster care as told by former foster youth, foster parents, and caseworkers. In this sequel book, we will be hearing from individuals who experienced both foster care and human trafficking, individuals who work at the organizations supporting their healthy exit from trafficking, and from child welfare professionals who saw the connections in their work.

We are currently seeking supportive funding that will be used to “sponsor” the storytellers to come from across the US to our weekend sessions in Texas, so that the participants will not have to pay for anything (ex. transportation, lodging, food, etc.). Funding will also be used to help bring the gallery across the United States, covering the cost of ground transportation for the art/display walls, any rented spaces, and the launch event (which will be catered, advertised, and held at a nice venue).

About the Process

Following the Storytelling Through Photography curriculum developed by EFI, participants will use photography to share their journey and process their story through art-therapy. A select group of photos taken during this course will be used to create a traveling exhibition to be shown in art galleries, schools, conferences, and churches in the United States. The gallery will also be compiled into a book that will available wherever books are sold. The goal of this project is to bring awareness to the needs, challenges and joys of those involved in the foster care community and to raise funds for Empty Frames Initiative’s first facility.

This project starts with one weekend of classroom style training and photography exercises using the Storytelling Through Photography workbook by Empty Frames Initiative. This time also allows participants to engage in peer-to-peer group discussions. Trainings will be divided into the three categories, with a unique session for those with lived experience, those coming from non-profit work, and those with child welfare experience.

Example (DATES NOT SET, just example of how classes are organized):

October 12th-15th: Foster care alumni & human trafficking survivors

October 19th-22nd: Current or former child welfare professionals

October 26th-29th: Current or former non-profit organization workers

Participants will again be given artist/photography/author credit for work submitted, compensation for time in trainings, basic digital camera, access to all gallery events, and (2) copies of the book. There is also the opportunity for Empty Frames Initiative to purchase a standard use commercial license for rights to reprint photographs that will be sold separately from the book. Participants will be compensated directly. To hear more about their experience and the creation of this book, you can watch this session with our authors hosted by Foster Families NC:

Storytelling Through Photography Artist & Authors Sessions

Support the creation of The Story of Foster Care vol. 2

Team Members