The University of Alabama

Crossroads Community Center

Black Belt 100 Lenses: Sumter County Photography Exhibition
Creating History Every Day

Ala.--Sumter County High, North Sumter Junior High School, Livingston Junior High and Sumter Academy students for the past several months have been photographing images of their daily lives for the 100 Lenses Project, a joint effort of the Black Belt Community Foundation and the University of Alabama’s Center for Community-Based Partnerships.

100 Lenses builds on the experience of the 2006 University of Alabama 100 Lenses Project at Crossroads Community Center. With this exhibit, Crossroads welcomes home the fruits of this initiative.

Crossroads Community Center and the Center for Community-Based Partnerships are pleased to announce the displaying of the 100 Lenses Project in the Crossroads Lounge in the Ferguson Center beginning March 25, 2008. This photography exhibit allows the UA community an opportunity to see the beauty and splendor of Alabama’s Sumter County. “The most rewarding part of the project is seeing the students explore their talents, tap into skills they didn’t realize they had, and realize the important things within their community that are sometimes taken for granted,” said Elliot Knight, 100 Lenses Project Coordinator. The photos were displayed at the University of West Alabama January 17 through March 1.

Students in seventh through eleventh grades were given point-and-shoot cameras and told to capture the culture and conditions of their communities. Project organizers left the subject matter open to the students, telling them to shoot whatever was meaningful to them. From nature scenes to family life and religious images, the subject matter varied from student to student. Sumter County students have helped to develop a model of this project that will be carried out in 11 other Black Belt counties. In addition, works from Sumter County glass artist Linda Munoz, who created artwork inspired by the students' photography, will be on display.


“Black Belt 100 Lenses: Sumter County Photography Exhibition,” opening celebration Tuesday, March 25th, 4pm, Crossroads Lounge, 232 Ferguson Center, The University of Alabama, free. The public is invited. For information, please call 205-348-6930 or email beverly.hawk@ua.edu. The exhibit will be on display until April 30, 2008.

Co-sponsored by AlabamaREAL, The Black Belt Community Foundation, The Center for Community-Based Partnerships, Creative Campus Initiative, Crossroads Community Center, The Ferguson Center, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Sumter Academy, and Sumter County Board of Education.

Crossroads Community Center is an initiative of the UA Office of Community Affairs under the direction of Dr. Samory Pruitt. We provide campus leadership in the areas of cultural programming and intercultural education by facilitating relationship-building across cultures through innovative programs and initiatives. We facilitate multicultural dialogue and prepare students to participate in a global society. We host the conversations that build community. www.crossroads.ua.edu

Contact: Dr. Beverly Hawk, Director @ 205-348-6930 or beverly.hawk@ua.edu
Brice Miller, Assistant Director @ 205-348-8514 or brice.miller@ua.edu