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Students show Midtown as they see it

An annual exhibit showcases young journalists' view of the world around them.

By CRISTINA SILVA, Times Staff Writer
Published October 10, 2007

This photo of a man waiting outside a carwash was taken by Domonic Eaves, a seventh-grader at John Hopkins Middle School. The students took pictures of everyday life in several neighborhoods.

ADVERTISEMENT Sha'Von Chasten, a fifth-grader at Melrose Elementary, captured a picture of two boys boxing. Journalism students also interviewed people on the streets.

ST. PETERSBURG- The images are as striking as they are matter of fact: a half dozen school children in a playground, a seamstress hunched over her work station, a young man sitting in a chair, waiting.

"Midtown Through Our Eyes," an annual exhibit of photographs taken by local journalism students in grades 4 through 9, depicts the everyday moments of one of St. Petersburg's most neglected neighborhoods beyond the violence reported in the evening news.

Now in its fourth year, the exhibit opens Friday at the Studio@620 The 2007 issue of Midtown Magazine will also debut that evening.

On a recent afternoon, Neighborhood Times chatted with Cynda Mort, a journalism teacher at Melrose Elementary School and John Hopkins Middle School, about the work that goes into producing the gallery event.

How did "Midtown Through Our Eyes" come about?

We wanted to do a free summer camp to extend the students' journalism lessons. We decided to do a three-week camp where it would be a hands-on experience. We decided to take them out to Midtown, because that's where our schools are. We went on 40 to 41 field trips this year in that three-week period and produced a 32-page magazine.

Where did you take the students during the field trips?

We went to dozens and dozens of places. We went to Tropicana Field, we went to a lot of local businesses like Connie's Bar-B-Que, Uncle Dea's Restaurant. We did all the rec centers. We went to the TyRon Lewis Gym. We interviewed people we saw on the streets about "My Midtown," like where was their favorite place to eat. Every year we think we are not going to be able to find something new, but every year there are new and interesting things to look for.

Do many of the students live in Midtown?

Some of the kids live there, some don't. It's a good experience either way. A lot of the kids who live here talk about places they never saw in their neighborhoods. It changes a lot of perceptions.

What advice do you give the children before they go out?

They are all taking journalism classes, so they have a basic foundation. We ask them to be professional. We ask them to be accurate. We train them about what to do. You have to learn to be brave and go up to strangers and talk to them.

What type of response do you hear from the children and their families once the project is over?

It's wonderful for them to see themselves as doing a job and being professionals and being grownup about this. It's really awesome to watch their faces as they go into the gallery and see their work on the walls and in print.

Cristina Silva can be reached at csilva@sptimes.com or 727 893-8846.

IF YOU GO

'Midtown Through Our Eyes'

Where: The Studio@620 620 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg

When: The opening reception is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. The exhibit runs through Oct. 19.

Other "Midtown Through Our Eyes" events at Studio@620:

A Taste of Midtown and a Community Conversation. 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17.

Student Poetry Slam. 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19.

The student journalists will be in attendance for all three events to answer questions and present their work. For more information, contact the Studio@620 at 895-6620.

[Last modified October 9, 2007, 22:21:11]