Bright Ideas Grant
Initial Grant Proposal
PICS with Inner-City Students
Photography
Prepared for: The Bright ideas Advisory Board & The Student United Way Board
Prepared by: Daniel Chernoff, Luke Gatta, David Massop, Ian Newberry, and Subeer
Wadia
March 5, 2010
Saint Louis University
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
TableofContents
ExecutiveSummary . . . . . . . 2
OUR MISSION
OUR VALUES
OUR OBJECTIvE
OUR NEEDS
OUR VISION
OurIdea . . . . . . . . . . 3
THE NEED
THE SOLUTION
FOR WHO
EVALUATIONS
FirstSteps . . . . . . . . . 5
WHAT WE’VE DONE
WHAT WE’VE GATHERED
WHO WE’VE TALKED TO
OurPlan . . . . . . . . . . 7
OUR GOALS
OUR TASKS
OUR TIMELINE
OurOrganization . . . . . . . . 9
TEAM
LEADERSHIP
STRUCTURE
PARTNERSHIPS
FUNDING
OurBudget . . . . . . . . . 11
START-UP BUDGET
TheEnd . . . . . . . . . . 13
Page 1
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
ExecutiveSummary
OurMission:
Our mission is to expand the consciousness of a third-grader’s mind by empowering them, with the lens of a
camera, to capture and appreciate both their surroundings and themselves.
OurValues:
Imagination - This is what drives PICS, and is the backbone of our program. Imagination is what has in-
spired us, and is what will inspire their art. PICS will give local students an opportunity to stimulate their
young imaginations.
Respect - The inner-city students will have a chance to hold expensive equipment. The only pre-requisite to
using a DSLR camera is a sense of respect for the instrument that they are holding. Respect also means
sharing the camera, and appreciating the surroundings that become the focus under their lens.
Self-confidence - Consider this value from the eyes of an inner-city student: You control the scene. You
are the one pressing the shutter button, capturing the scene, creating the photograph. You are the one that
brings home the photograph to stick on the refrigerator for everyone to see. Photography is a hobby that
can spark self-confidence.
OurObjective:
PICS will work with the after-school program at Cole Elementary, part of the St. Louis public school system,
teaching photography workshop.. The hidden agenda behind this whole program, however, is to give posi-
tive attention to those who often slip beneath the radar of the public school system.
OurNeeds:
With the Bright Ideas Grant, PICS will purchase DSLR cameras, a macro lens, a tripod, and two other mis-
cellaneous supplies to share among the inner-city students. Please see page 12 for our budgeted supplies.
OurVision:
We want to see students proud of themselves and what they do, and instill a lifelong appreciation for art and
expression. By using their imagination, attaining a sense of respect for their surroundings, and developing
self-confidence, our vision is to help inner-city students find theirs.
Page 2
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
OurIdea
TheNeed:
Most inner-city public school are understood to be inferior to private schools. In fact, the student to faculty
ratio in some schools can be as high as 31:1 1. Even if all students actively participate and do not call nega-
tive attention to themselves by disrupting the class, it is very difficult for an individual student to receive atten-
tion. Students need validation of their accomplishments 2, and they need to have an outlet to express them-
selves creatively.
TheSolution:
Art is part of the solution. Students involved in the arts are four time more likely to be recognized for aca-
demic achievement, and three times more likely to win an award for student attention. 3 We will to teach the
students the art and science behind the lens, about aperture and shutter speed. Then, we give them cam-
era, and let them tell us what it is they see, and how they can manipulate the scene to take a photograph. It
can take our minds off of things, and break the daily grind.
ForWho:
PICS will initially work with inner-city third to fifth graders at Cole Elementary. We will evaluate this age group
as we work with the students.
1 http://hubpages.com/hub/st_Louis_Public_Schools
2 http://runningriver.org/how-much-validation-do-children-need/
3 http://www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/default.asp
Page 3
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
Evaluation:
Evaluating how we are achieving our bright idea is important, and PICS will frequently evaluate how success-
ful we are in promoting our values. Meeting with the after school program coordinator after each weekly
workshop, we will discuss what worked and what did not. Since there are multiple students in our group, we
will each evaluate each other and offer criticisms. We will evaluate the age group of the students after one
month of working with the students. In addition, we will evaluate whether or not the workshops are success-
ful based on the number of students returning each week.
Each week, we will ask ourselves:
Were the students excited to see us?
Were the students excited to hold the cameras?
Did the students respect the cameras?
Did the students follow directions?
Did the students smile when they heard the shutter flip?
Did the students ask us questions?
Did the students say thank you at the end of the workshop?
To evaluate the logistics, we will ask ourselves:
For each group member, how is the group size, working with three - four students?
Were there problems getting the students engaged?
Were there problems getting the students to respect the camera?
Were there any behavioral problems?
Did the students have fun?
We will then share what worked and what did not work for each of the group members that held the work-
shop that day, so that we might learn from each other and improve our program.
Page 4
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
FirstSteps
What We’ve Done:
I currently volunteer at Cole Elementary each week through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Volunteer-
ing there for more than a year, I have made several contacts which have provided me with information and
will assist us in organizing the program. I have tested out the idea twice, bringing my DSLR camera and
several interchangeable lenses into my “little brother”s” third grade classroom during a break period. I briefly
set the shutter speed to 1/80, turned on autofocus, and taught them the big rule: to always have the camera
strap around their neck to prevent the camera from dropping. Then, I showed them how to stand, kneel,
and hold the camera. Each then had their turn to photograph a friend. Hearing the shutter flip simultane-
ously brought a smile. On February 18th, I again brought my camera to Cole and worked with two students,
again teaching the fundamentals. Each had five minutes to walk around the classroom and look through the
eyepiece and shoot. These experiences inspired me to consider expanding the workshop with a few friends
and with the help of the the Bright Ideas Grant. I then talked to the school’s secretary about the idea, who
was shared my enthusiasm. She provided me with contact information for the after-school program coordi-
nator (see “Our Partnerships”, later).
What We’ve Gathered:
David Massop, Daniel Chernoff, Ian Newberry and Subeer Wadia were very eager to help out with PICS. We
looked up the cheapest prices for amateur DSLR cameras (see “Our Budget”, later). We determined that
Cole Elementary would be the best place to hold the photography workshops for several reasons: first, it falls
under the characteristics of your average St. Louis inner-city public school; second, it is close to campus and
easy for us to visit weekly; third, it has an extensive after-school program. Cole Elementary serves students
from prekindergarten to the seventh grade. It hosts 276 4 students, and has 20 teachers, a student to faculty
ratio of 14:1. The percentage of African American enrollment is 99.6%. City-data.com school ratings rate
Cole Elementary a 3 on a scale of 0-100, based on test scores compared to other schools in Missouri.
4All information, and subsequent information, comes from
http://www.city-data.com/school/cole-elem-mo.html
Page 5
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
Who We’ve Talked to:
Mrs. Janice Hill, the secretary of Cole Elementary, has been my main contact. She provided me with the the
contact information of the after-school program director, Ms. Kynedra Ogunnaite Vashon. In addition, I have
talked this over and sought advice from my Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentor, Ms. Kary Cauldwell, who works
with the students each day. Finally, Ms. Claire Wolff, who started the Urban Studio Cafe in Old North St.
Louis, started a very similar photography program in her years at Washington University. I talked to her after
the iLead conference and exchanged emails with her. With her experiences in working with the community
at her non-profit cafe and using a grant to start a community photography program in her undergrad, she
can be an invaluable contact. In addition, I have talked about the idea to Donna Green, the manager at
Crave Coffee shop, who frequently showcases the artwork from people in the community.
Page 6
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
OurPlan
OurGoals:
The first goal is to obtain the cameras and lenses, and set the settings to a practical and student-friendly
level. The second goal is to determine who exactly it is, and how to select students for the workshop. We
already know that the student must be a part of the after-school program, but after that, we are unsure how
to further select, as we anticipate a great deal of interest. The third goal is to have our first workshop shortly
after purchasing the cameras. All four group members will be present for this first workshop, and we hope to
have three to four students with each instructor. The fourth goal is to continue hosting the workshops
throughout the semester, with at least three group members present at each workshop. Finally, the fifth goal
is to evaluate our successes and areas for improvement each week after the workshop. We will then look
into continuing the program when students return in the fall.
OurTasks:
Our first task is to find the supplies to equip our students. We have already secured a tripod and three
Canon lenses, and now our task is to research and find the best camera bodies at the best price. The next
task after we have secured the supplies is to host our first workshop, which will be between 2:30 to 5pm.
After our first workshop, our subsequent tasks are to remain diligent in holding the workshops. After three
workshops, our next task is to print out an 8x10 personalized photo for each of the students. Since we will
only have one month to do photography workshops this year (see “timeline”, next), we will hold the cameras
until the fall semester where we will have the task of restarting the program. After the fall semester, we give
the cameras that we have purchased to two students who have demonstrated a superior enthusiasm and
appreciation for photography.
Page 7
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
OurTimeline:
Week of March 22-26 - Receive the cameras, set the settings, read up on the fundamentals, and practice
with the camera bodies and lenses.
Week of March 29-April 2 - Host first Photography workshop after-school at Cole Elementary. Specific day
to be determined in further discussions with Ms. Vashon. First workshop is basic rules and instructions, with
the students experimenting in the last thirty minutes.
Week of April 5 - April 9 - Evaluate the first workshop. On the same weekday as the first workshop, host the
second photography workshop. The second workshop continues with the camera fundamentals, this time
with more student experimentation. Again, the second workshop is within the grounds of Cole Elementary.
Week of April 12 - April 16 - Evaluate the second workshop. Host the third workshop with the same stu-
dents as the first two workshops. In the third workshop, the students will have the most time to play with the
cameras. Their best image will be printed on the April 17-18 weekend.
Week of April 19 - April 23 - Hold the final workshop. Distribute the student’s work and have them share
images. Make any last instructions and say goodbye for the summer. Check to find a cafe in St. Louis that
can display the students work, such as Crave Coffee Shop and Urban Studio Cafe.
Week of September 6 - September 10 - Evaluate the first semester of PICS. Seek advice from the admini-
stration at Cole Elementary. Host another semester of photography workshops with new students, and up-
date the timeline for PICS.
Page 8
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
OurOrganization
OurTeam:
Our team consists of four core members. We all know each other because we are all in the same fraternity,
Sigma Phi Epsilon, though PICS has no relationship with the fraternity.
Daniel Chernoff - a sophomore theology major on the premed track.
David Massop - a sophomore environmental science and biology major on the premed track.
Ian Newberry - a psychology and biology major on the premed track.
Luke Gatta - a sophomore majoring in philosophy and nutrition/dietetics on the premed track.
Subeer Wadia - a first year medical school student.
OurLeadership:
While we will all work as a team with the student, Luke Gatta is the primary contact for PICS. His contact
information is on the header of the page.
OurPartnerships:
We will work closely with Cole Elementary and with their after-school program director Ms. Vashon. In addi-
tion, we will work with Donna Green, the manager of Crave Coffee Shop, and Claire Wolff, the manager of
Urban Studio Cafe to see if the student’s artwork can be displayed. Finally, I have a working relationship with
a parter in event services at the SLU Hospital, who is willing to let us fundraise at a luncheon on April 23 (see
“funding”, to follow).
Page 9
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
OurFunding:
PICS depends on the Bright Ideas Grant. We will use the money primarily to purchase the cameras and
other supplies order to start PICS (see “budget”, to follow). Virtually all of our costs for PICS are start-up
costs, to purchase the cameras. These cameras can be reused again and again, so there are very few on-
going operational costs. Since the school four blocks from SLU, we will walk there each week to save on
gas money. The only other costs other than the cameras and various lenses at the beginning of the program
would be printing the photos for the students, which comes out to be $59.80 at Walgreens. Thus, due to
the nature of the program, where we do not have any ongoing operational costs, our budget is a start-up
budget.
However, since we do intend to expand, funding will become essential to sustaining PICS. We hope to pur-
chase more cameras, so that the camera to student ratio can become more even. In addition, in the future
we intend to visit the zoo, the botanical garden, or other sites in St. Louis to practice taking photos.
First, we can our social fraternity as a source of possible funding. There are two formal events this semester,
on March 20th and April 16th. We can set up a photobooth at these events right next to the dance floor, and
throughout the night have individual couples and friends get their portraits taken for a price. If we charge five
dollars per portrait, and half of the couples get their portraits taken, we can raise over $300 just on portraits
alone, not including additional donations. Thus, should we run into the situation where we need additional
financial resources, we can always set up a photobooth to raise money. We have the studio umbrellas and
tripod necessary to do this.
In addition, on April 23, the Saint Louis University Hospital is having their annual luncheon at the Boathouse
in Forest Park. We have been invited to present PICS at the luncheon in hopes to attract certain donations
to purchase additional equipment, such as a fisheye lens for the students, or additional cultural books. Fi-
nally, another idea is the profit sharing at local restaurants such as Chuy’s, Vitos, or Cafe Ventana. Since our
team is active on campus, it would not be difficult to find support in trying to raise funds.
Page 10
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
OurBudget
What we already have:
• A DSLR camera: Canon Rebel T1i camera
• A telephoto lens; EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
• A wide-angle lens: Sigma 10-20mm 5.6 EX DC HSM
• A standard zoom lens: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
• A tripod
• Two studio-lights and umbrellas
• Various camera connection cords (USB, Video input, etc).
What the Bright Ideas Grant will be used to purchase:
Supply: Quantity: Unit Price: Total Price:
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 2 $749.99, $1,499.98
(CAMERA BODY)
Digital SLR Kit, with EF-S 18-55mm
f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
(CAMERA LENS)
Canon 58 MM UV Protector Filter 2 $12.95 $25.90
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro 1 $299.99 $299.99
Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
(CAMERA LENS)
Hoya 55mm UV Haze Glass Filter 1 $13.35 $13.35
Canon RC-5 Wireless Remote 1 $24.95 $24.95
Sigma EF-530 DG ST E-TTL Shoe 1 $149 $149
Mount Flash for Canon EOS
8x10 prints at Walgreens on Lindell 27 $2.99 $80.73
Benro A-0668 Travel Aluminum Tri- 1 $143 $143
pod
Page 11
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
Supply: Quantity: Unit Price: Total Price:
Life: The Classic Collection (Book) 1 $29.95 $29.95
Vanishing America: The End of Main 1 $37.95 $37.95
Street Diners, Drive-Ins, Donut
Shops, and Other Everyday Monu-
ments (Book)
Through the Lens: National Geo- 1 $30 $30
graphic Greatest Photographs (Book)
National Geographic Image Collec- 1 $36 $36
tion (Book)
Total: $2,370.80
Notes:
-Shipping and handling is free when ordering from www.bhphotovideo.com.
-Books will be ordered from www.bn.com, or picked up in-store.
-For the macro lens, we ordered a SIGMA, and for the tripod we ordered a BENRO because they are not
nearly as expensive as a Canon. However, both are compatible with Canon cameras.
-Again, the only on-going costs will be to print off the student’s images at Walgreens on Lindel Blvd.
OurIncome
Income Idea: Estimated Income:
Photobooth at Spring Formal, March 20 $300-400
SLU Hospital Luncheon, April 23 $100-1000 (too early to estimate)
Profit Share at restaurants $200-300
Selling images at Crave $125 each photo
Page 12
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
TheEnd
Part of the job of the photographer is to take an ordinary subject and make it extraordinary. Add color to the
bench that we pass everyday, call attention to an everyday face that we see by taking her portrait. Through a
photograph, the photographer can command attention to issues that happen in our communities that go
unnoticed. PICS intends to provide positive attention to inner city students by making each one the photog-
rapher.
WIth a Bright Idea Grant, PICS will purchase cameras as outlined in our budget to equip students with the
instruments to take photographs. After seeing the world through a lens, the student-photographers can
learn a new perspective on the world around them. Through their photographs, the students can show us
and the world what it is that they see.
Thank you for your consideration of our proposal.
Page 13
PICS
tel 917.671.8733
MSC #6637
Photography with
Inner-City Students lgatta@slu.edu
Travon Bush, a third-grader at Cole Elementary. To him, I am indebted for this Bright Idea.
Page 14