What We Do
At Lens on Life, we empower youth overcoming significant adversity through the transformative power of photography and digital literacy. We are dedicated to helping them heal, reclaim their stories, and unlock their inner potential to inspire positive change within their communities.
Our story began at home, fueled by a passion for photography nurtured by our late mother, Bonni. We drew inspiration from the photography gallery she founded in New York City in the 1980s, and from a young age, we always had a camera in hand. Our father, Dennis— a film director with fifty years of experience—provided technical guidance and instilled in us the confidence to go out with a camera, push boundaries, and pursue the perfect shot.
In 2016, we combined our love for photography with our background in youth development to design a photography curriculum for vulnerable youth, presented in an easy-to-understand format. Our ultimate goal was to empower students through self-expression. We started with the basics—simple digital cameras and short, intensive classes—avoiding overly technical or theoretical instruction that could detract from our mission: helping students use photography to foster both individual pride and community spirit.
Pilot projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Brooklyn demonstrated that students quickly solidified their identities—not only as photography students but also as emerging photographers with an entrepreneurial spirit. In the DRC, male participants began photographing weddings and local gatherings, translating their training into income while helping to improve their communities. Female participants—many of whom had been targets of rape and domestic violence—challenged gender stereotypes by using photography as a means of empowerment and self-expression. Following these initial projects, we developed an introductory course in computer literacy, focusing on the skills needed to prepare youth for a rapidly changing environment and the modern job market.
Lens on Life continues to grow, thanks to our supportive network of volunteers and partner organizations. We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for photography with these incredible students, who, despite facing tremendous adversity, have created inspiring images that empower their peers and communities.
