......and lots of laughs, excitment and energy

Last Saturday nine Young Photographers, parents and family friends assembled in the Seuss on the 5th Floor of Boston Children's Museum for the Kickoff of the 2008 YPI KIDS Project:Tomorrow. Paula Rauch MD, Director of the Korff PACT Program (Parenting At a Challenging Time) at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center was there with me to welcome them.

The Young Photographers are children whose parents are or have been in treatment for cancer at MGH Cancer Center. This is a departure from last year's Project where the children were the ones in treatment for cancer but the MGH program was just too enticing. They range in age from 11 to 18.

What better way to start the day than with the famous Knot "Icebreaker". First the kids and then the parents. You simply form a circle shoulder to shoulder. Then, you reach over and grab a hand, as in with both hands, of any other person... and don't let got. Once everyone has a hand you simply need to find a way to untangle the "knot" without letting go of the hands that you are holding on to. Needless to say there was a lot of directing and misdirection .... and laughter.

























Now I know if I ..... Naaaa, think this is fine!



This exercise was followed by several others that were designed to breakdown whatever other inhibitions the group might have had when they got to the door. To further loosen up the crowd I attempted my one legged version of the soft shoe. Applause was NOT overwhelming.



One of the exercises involved having a person step to the center of the room and assume a position or pose. The next person simply had to go out and attach himself/herself to that person... and so on. Again, more barriers fall ....and lots of laughter.


























Before lunch, I showed some of the portrait work I had done to give the kids some type of a frame of reference as to where to start. They also got to see the images that last year's YPI KIDS created with their Holgas.

A quick lunch and then each child received his/her Holga, which they will get to keep at the end of the project. Next task was to load them with film. Final order of the day: the group photo of the kids. ... an experience not dissimilar from herding cats. But we prevailed.


Not to be outdone, the parents staged their own impromptu group photo session.


Next up, kids have to have their exposed rolls of film back (they are to take images of their respective parents) to me by July 9 and I am going to start to shoot the portraits of the kids with their parents........ a lot of excitement and energy from a very special group of "individuals".

the TEAM

On May 13 the "team" assembled for a luncheon in Boston hosted by Dola Stemberg, the "Project Angel". The cast of "characters" are (from left to right) Dola; Gail Ringel, VP Exhibits & Production of Boston Children's Museum which has agreed to host the YPI KIDS 2008: Project: Tommorw Exhibition starting in October; myself and Paula Rauch, Founder and Director, Marjorie E. Korff Parenting at Challenging Time (PACT) Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Aside from getting a handle on some of the things that we needed to do to complete the 2008 Project: Tomorrow, it provided an opportunity for all to meet and get to know one another beyond the electronic (e-mail) level.

The most exciting news came from Paula who indicated that almost all children had been selected and that they represented a broad cross section of the types of patients at PACT. Details concerning the First Class for the children and their parents on June 21 and the Opening of the Exhibition on October 7 were also reviewed.

I still find the whole project to be like some sort of a dream. I feel so fortunate to have the support and backing of these three special ladies but most of all I am thankful for having been given the opportunity to work with these amazing parents and their children.

...lift off for 2008

It all happened so quickly. I guess the corollary to that would be that when something is right, it's right for a reason. Through a friend I was recently introduced to Dr Paula Rauch, the Founder and Director of the what has become the Majorie E. Korff PACT (Parenting at a Challenging Time) Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. The Program provides counseling services to parents (and their families) who have been diagnosed with cancer. Issues such as addressing the child's reaction to and understanding of the situation and helping the child cope with the extremely difficult situation when the parent is dying are among those that may be addressed. The service is provided for free to parents who are being treated at Mass General. It is a GREAT program.

While I had been in discussions with three other hospitals over the past couple of months, I met with Paula one time and the "die was cast". Staff members are in the midst of the Selection process (they are selecting nine children whose parents are in the PACT Program who will become my 2008 Young Photographers). The Initial Meeting/Training Session is set for June 21st. The only missing piece to the puzzle is the venue for the fall Exhibition.

The children will be taking pictures of their respective parents and completing a writing assignment in conjunction with this portrait. I will be doing a portrait of each child with his/her parent.... and the parents also will have a writing assignment to complete. Details for the 2008 Project: Tomorrow will be available on the web site www.ypikids.com starting next month.

While I am extremely excited about the unique opportunity that I am going to have to work with these kids and their parents, I am also enormously apprehensive about the responsibility I feel to make it a meaningful experience for all. My intent is to share this experience, it's highs it's lows, for better or worse.

Up and running

While I missed the chance during the 2007 Project: Tomorrow, I plan to take you along with me as I do my 2008 project.
This is a group photo of the my nine 2007 Young Photographers from the Maine Children's Cancer Program... they were the best! And I am forever grateful for the experience I got to share with them.