Changing the narrative of young lives - capturing their truth.
About the Talk
Digital storytelling can add a human voice and face to the stories of the layered, complex youth we often lump together under labels like ‘at-risk youth’ or ‘opportunity youth’, integrating their own words and images with those of the communities around them. Filled with Akintola’s own photography, his talk explains how we can touch the hearts of these youth – generating empathy and honesty about who they are and what they desire for their own lives.
About Akintola
Akintola Hanif can perhaps best be thought of as a visual art virtuoso. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of HYCIDE magazine, Resident Documentarian at YouthBuild Newark, and the Director of Photography for Amplify, Inc., Akintola’s research interest is heavily rooted in cross-cultural photojournalism, media coverage and documentation of quality of life, education, and class issues. His work exists in the permanent collections of the New Jersey State Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Museum. His corporate commissions include projects for Prudential and Red Bull. In May, 2011 Akintola launched HYCIDE magazine, an online and print arts & culture journal dedicated to stories of disenfranchised, marginalized individuals and communities around the world, challenging the status quo while bearing witness to the feared, neglected and misunderstood.
About Connection
Connection isn’t just an event, it’s an experience. Each year the Connection event brings together thought leaders from the youth service field to make unexpected connections that break through the status quo. A refreshing line up of brilliant speakers challenge practice-as-usual and provide participants with the opportunity to learn about and discuss key issues in a relaxed, creative atmosphere. Our innovative format means that you don’t just listen to thought-provoking presentations and fresh ideas, you have the chance to discuss and build upon them. Our broad, multi-sector network means that you can expect the opportunity to talk with familiar colleagues, reconnect where you may have lost touch, and get connected with those outside your network. Even our nontraditional space provides inspiration to move, think, and speak freely. If you believe Akintola’s pictures are worth a thousand words, use just a few to spread the word on his work.
