ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Art can provide a powerful outlet for individuals to express their unique voices. Through mediums like painting, photography and sculpture, artists communicate personal experiences and social issues, inspiring conversation and change.

What You Need To Know

  • The Flower City Arts Center's after-school program empowers high school students to express themselves through art

  • Students like Jadaly Montalvo experience personal growth and empowerment by using photography

  • The program extends students' impact by involving them in community work with nonprofits

At the Flower City Arts Center, an after-school program gives students a platform to turn their words into compelling visual stories. The program encourages students to explore and express thoughts and emotions that words alone sometimes can't capture.

For Jadaly Montalvo, a high school senior, photography is more than just an after-school hobby; it's her way to showcase her unique perspective.

"This picture right here was just to introduce myself," she said. "It's one of my favorite pictures. I always try to recreate it."

Jadaly’s journey with photography began when she overcame initial hesitation and took a leap to join the photography program at the Flower City Arts Center.

"It changed my life," she said. 

The center’s photography program has been inspiring students like Jadaly for years. Under the guidance of Markus Essien, the photo program coordinator, students learn to connect art with storytelling and life itself.

"We have a middle school program for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who learn how to work with a manual camera and print," Essien said. "And then our high school students are doing digital photography and a bit of filmmaking."

The program goes beyond teaching photography skills; it empowers students to convey complex emotions and important social topics. One example is the "Pass the Mic" exhibit, where students shared personal stories on issues like men’s health and reproductive rights.

"For us, giving these children a voice through the arts is really important," Essien said. "Teenagers are experimenting with life and trying to figure out who they are. So it’s crucial for them to understand their voice so that they can tell their own stories."

For Jadaly, photography is a way to capture life’s mysteries.

"As I stare at the photo, it’s an unknown story, a mystery," she said. "Words fly through my head to describe an unknown picture, a forgotten beauty. That’s what I was thinking about."

Cocoa Raedavid, a teacher in the photo club, speaks highly of Jadaly’s potential.

"She has a fire, a bright fire ready to shine," Raedavid said.

Each photograph Jadaly creates reflects her journey and emotions.

"To know my picture came out good, knowing that I had to choose the lighting and create it—it made me feel powerful, like I am really doing this," she said.

For the students at the Flower City Arts Center, their voices are captured forever in their art, leaving a lasting impression on the world. The program also supports students in collaborating with nonprofit organizations that may not have resources for large production projects, allowing the young artists to make a meaningful impact through their work.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words—and for the young photographers at the Flower City Arts Center, each image speaks volumes about their unique perspectives and dreams.