Youthlight Shines

My husband introduced me to freelance photographer Marshall Clarke years ago at MAP's annual fundraiser Out of Order. His kindness was striking and sincere. My husband, a college professor, had recently sent his students to help Marshall with the Youthlight Photography Project

The Youthlight Photography Project is a comprehensive thirty-five week after school photography and media literacy program targeting youth ages 11-18 and is based in the Baltimore City communities of Hampden and Southwest Baltimore. Youthlight delivers a comprehensive, creative, youth-centered after school program to address the artistic, emotional, and cognitive development of middle and high school participants. Youthlight achieves these goals by providing students with a safe space to create, positive adult role models, empowering activities, leadership development, and alternatives to violence and high risk behavior.

Girl with Space Candrea, age 15

At the time, I was tutoring kids after school at the Hampden Family center. It was no surprise, then, to run into Marshall one evening there at the center. My students, suddenly renewed with energy at the sight of him, alerted me to his presence shouting, "Hi, Mr. Marshall!"


Youthlight student taking photo

The Youthlight Photography Project empowers middle and high school age youth to document their lives, explore their creativity, build leadership skills, and encourages them to engage as activists in their neighborhoods through the creation of photographic images and community media.

You see, Youthlight provides these kids with much more than an education. It gives them something to create, something that they have artistic control over, something to be proud of.

The Charm City Craft Mafia is so proud to be sponsoring Youthlight Project at this year's Pile of Craft! Come meet and talk with Marshall and his students about the work they're doing. The students, of course, will be exhibiting and selling prints. And be sure to purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a basket of way crafty goodness from Mafia members and the Baltimore Etsy Street Team. All money raised will be donated to Youthlight.

We cannot wait to see Marshall's students shine.

Pile of Craft is this Saturday at St. John's Church in Charles Village from 10am to 5pm.