Dear Friends,
My name is Ron Moultrie Saunders Jr. I'm an artist and photographer and an Advisory Board member for First Exposures. When I joined the board, I knew I was stepping into an organization unlike any other. I was drawn to the program after seeing firsthand how much the young people in First Exposures grow through learning the art of photography. But it is the unique mentorship model—one mentor for each student—that truly sets our organization apart from other arts education programs.
Our mentors work one-on-one with each young person, building relationships that go far beyond photography. Through these connections, young people who are unsure or reserved learn to be a little more vulnerable and express themselves. In some ways photography is a vehicle to have somebody to talk to about school, personal challenges, and dreams for the future. Mentors offer crucial guidance that helps mentees build the confidence and resilience they need to pursue their dreams. This kind of personalized mentorship is rare and incredibly powerful. It gives our young artists the space to be heard, to ask questions, and to feel valued.
I’m proud to be part of an organization that provides this type of mentorship model to young people from communities who might never otherwise have access to a program like ours. BIPOC youth are often not exposed to the same resources as other populations, so this kind of accessibility is really important. Young people have to be exposed to resources like this in order to think, “Oh, that's something I might be interested in doing.”
The long-term impact of dedicated mentoring is truly inspiring. I think of someone like Frida, who after being in First Exposures for 5 years and taking on leadership on our Youth Advisory Board, worked with her mentor to apply to college, getting into UC Berkeley on a full scholarship. Now, she continues to grow as a leader, starting her own nonprofit and leading First Exposures’ first peer-led artist residency program this past summer. Rather than just moving forward, she’s looking back at the people behind her and thinking about how to bring them up too.
Seeing the young artists in First Exposures gain this level of confidence, become their true selves, and work towards making the world a better place really gives me a lot of hope for the future. Your support makes this kind of success possible.
This holiday season, please consider making the most generous gift you can to support First Exposures. With your donation, we can continue to provide a safe, supportive space for young people to grow and find confidence in themselves and their dreams.
Thank you for helping to make a difference that will last a lifetime.
With gratitude,
Ron Moultrie Saunders Jr.
Artist and First Exposures Advisory Board Member
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