Youth in Foster Care, Juvenile Justice Tell Their Stories Through Photography at Free Eureka Gallery Opening Friday

Press release from Humboldt County’s Transition-Age Youth Collaboration:

Participants with Humboldt County’s Transition-Age Youth Collaboration (HCTAYC) are hosting a photography pop-up gallery opening its doors to the public on Friday, June 26, from 2 to 5 p.m. The event will take place at the Schlueter Gallery, 330 Second St. in Eureka.

The exhibition showcases the power of storytelling by youth from throughout the county with lived experience in foster care, mental health programs, juvenile justice and other systems and services.

Sonya Levy-Boyd, project supervisor and senior program manager with the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Transition-Age Youth Division, said, “This exhibition will be transformative as local youth share a piece of their life through art—the raw, real, challenging and beautiful experiences they have overcome as they navigate their lived experience in our systems and their journey into adulthood and independence.”

The idea for the pop-up museum project was inspired by young people at the Transition-Age Youth (TAY) Center and their request for creative arts events which allow them to share their stories.

In preparation for the gallery, participants will attend a two-day workshop with former foster youth and photographer Michael Papias as well as founding member of HCTAYC, Jamie Lee Evans. Evans will teach and mentor attendees on how to tell their stories and assist with setting up the gallery to display their art. Photographs from the workshop will be printed on a large scale, wheat-pasted to cardboard and put on display in the Schlueter Gallery, which the community can view when the event opens on June 26.

Rosemary Shultz, youth organizer for HCTAYC said, “Working with Michael Papias and Jamie Lee Evans for this workshop series and pop-up gallery is extra impactful as they are both former foster youth themselves. It is so important for system-impacted youth to work with caring adults with similar lived experiences as themselves for them to feel safe and heard in their advocacy and creative expression.”

HCTAYC has been supporting youth leadership and voice in Humboldt County since 2009.

The Transition-Age Youth Photography Pop-Up Gallery is a free event and open to the whole community. Don’t miss the unique opportunity to honor the stories of young people in Humboldt County and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys and perspectives.

For more information, email [email protected].