COLUMBIA, MO. – Three Missouri students were recognized for their work in a statewide project, Photovoice Missouri, a program for Missouri’s middle and high school students to take photos, write captions and use that work to advocate for positive health changes in their communities.
Paige Carlyle and Ashley Bichsel, both students at North Shelby High School, won the top two prizes at the 2013 Photovoice Missouri awards on Friday, April 19. Jess Stinson, a student at Mark Twain High School in Ralls County was awarded third place.
The three winning students were among more than 20 student finalists from the seven participating Missouri counties, including Jackson, Ralls, Shelby, St. Louis City and County, Dallas and Dent, who were honored for their year-long work on Photovoice Missouri. Finalists were judged by how well their photos and captions illustrated the photovoice method and Healthy Lifestyle Initiative ideals.
The main goal of Photovoice Missouri is to encourage students to raise awareness about how their communities are supporting healthy eating and opportunities for physical activity by taking photographs of what they see in their everyday lives. Their photographs show examples of ways the community supports positive lifestyle behaviors as well as gaps or areas where community improvement is needed.
“It’s exciting to see how the photos are creating change in these communities and with the students,” said Jon Stemmle, co-organizer of Photovoice Missouri and director of the Health Communication Research Center at the Missouri School of Journalism. “We’re looking forward to another year and being able to expand the number of schools and students that we work with. I believe this project has created a community dialogue that we hope will continue.”
“Sad Pie”
Carlyle took first prize and won an iPad 2 for her photo, “Sad Pie,” in which she photographed a piece of pie that looked as if it had a sad face carved into its crust. With the photo, she wrote a caption detailing that pies, like the one pictured, are not healthy options for people to purchase at local high school basketball games. Instead, she recommended the concession stand offer healthy snacks like fruits and veggies.
Carlyle’s photo can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photovoicemissouri/8535139306/in/set-72157632470214069
“Opportunity Lockdown”
Bichsel won second prize and was awarded a Kindle Nook for her photo, “Opportunity Lockdown,” in which she photographed the doors of the town’s former elementary school’s gym which were padlocked. She suggested, in her caption, that the town decide on a way to keep the gym open for people in her community to use as an indoor gym and exercise facility.
Bichsel’s photo is available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photovoicemissouri/8424447752/in/set-72157632470214069
“Swimming Pool”
Stinson won an iPod shuffle for her photo, “Swimming Pool,” in which she photographed three kids playing in a swimming pool. With the photo, she wrote a caption explaining that Ralls County doesn’t have an outdoor swimming facility. She recommended the community band together to find a way to build a community pool as a good source of exercise and outdoor fun.
Stinson’s photo can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photovoicemissouri/8595341461/in/set-72157633102857549
All of the students’ pictures can be seen on Flickr, a photography sharing website, at: www.flickr.com/photos/photovoicemissouri/
Photovoice Missouri is supported by Missouri’s Healthy Lifestyle Initiative (HLI), assisted by the Health Communications Research Center (HCRC) at the Missouri School of Journalism.
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About HLI: The University of Missouri Extension Healthy Lifestyle Initiative helps Missouri communities develop and implement plans that focus on policy and environmental changes to support healthy lifestyles within their community. In each community, HLI engages a broad spectrum of community members, governmental officials, local farm and food groups, local schools and churches and others to develop and carry out plans to increase the availability of healthy, affordable, locally produced food and safe, accessible physical activity.