Photovoice
in the news

“Boone County
women document beauty, hardship with photos”
West Virginia Public Radio,
“Inside Appalachia” 5/9/09
(online 5/1/09)

“Harts women tell stories through photos”
Logan Banner 4/30/09

“Photovoice participants capture their Southern W.Va. communities in images”
The Charleston Gazette
4/12/09

In September of 2008, 40 women from five different communities in Southern West Virginia were given digital cameras and asked to take pictures to “tell the story” of their communities, including the strengths and assets of their communities, the unique character of life in the region, and the problems and issues of concern in their areas. Each group met monthly for the duration of the eight-month project to share their photographs, discuss common themes, create “photostories” (photographs with written narratives), and develop project ideas to address problems they identified. The purpose of this project is to increase civic engagement in rural coalfield communities and give voice to residents’ concerns and ideas for change.

The five Photovoice groups are located in the following communities:
click on Photovoice group to see their online gallery

Big Coal River Area of Boone County
(Prenter, Seth, Racine, Ashford communities)

Pond Fork Area of Boone County
(Wharton/Bim/Van/Bandytown/Twilight communities)

Lenore Area of Mingo County

Harts Area of Lincoln County

Upper Kanawha Valley of Kanawha County
(Cabin Creek and Winifrede communities)

“Photos voice the feelings nine women have for Lenore”
The Williamson Daily
News 4/4/09

“Photo exhibit tells stories of communities using art”
The Coal Valley News 4/1/09

CONTACT:

Southern West
Virginia Photovoice
Project

Shannon Elizabeth Bell Project Director

wv.photovoice@gmail.com
(304) 610-8318