Voices and Visions of BRIDGE Students

The choice to use alcohol and drugs may occur at the individual level, but just as family, peer, and school factors influence these choices, so too do factors in the community and society as a whole. With this in mind, the PPP started the Pittsfield Photovoice Project with seven rising freshmen in the Pittsfield Public Schools BRIDGE summer program. Photovoice is an international initiative that captures the voices and visions of individuals who are often left out of the decision-making process . It recognizes that “people are experts in their own lives” and offers an opportunity for active reflection, community dialogue and action.  The PPP provided the students with digital cameras and asked them to identify and explore risky behaviors and protective factors in their community and then communicate about them through photos and text. The PPP hopes that sharing this work with the broader community will inspire a dialogue that may lead to positive changes in how we understand and prevent underage drinking and other negative risk behaviors.