About Us

 Las Fotos Project was launched to provide opportunities for those who are both systemically and socially silenced to make themselves heard

 

 Las Fotos Project’s mission is to elevate the voices of teenage girls and gender-expansive youth from communities of color through photography and mentoring, empowering them to channel their creativity for the benefit of themselves, their community, and future careers.

Las Fotos Project was launched to provide opportunities for those who are both systemically and socially silenced to make themselves heard and, in the process, advocate for social change and create their own pathways to successful, creative futures. Our program model further reinforces photography’s inherent ability to spark introspection, evoke deeper meaning, and serve as a catalyst for change by placing students at the heart of social justice efforts in their respective communities.

 
 

Las Fotos Project was founded in 2010 by Los Angeles-based photographer Eric V. Ibarra after seeing a need for teenage girls throughout Los Angeles to have a skill that could help build their confidence and self-esteem. In March of 2011, Las Fotos Project became a project of Community Partners, a 501(c)3 organization which accelerates ideas into action to advance the public good. Las Fotos Project has since worked with girls throughout Southern California, and has developed partnership with national and international nonprofit organizations and schools to expand the movement of inspiring teenage girls through photography and self-expression. Our current focus is on the Central, South, and East Los Angeles regions of Los Angeles.

 

Watch our Mini-Documentary

 

Video courtesy of the Cal State LA student film team, with support from Hauser & Wirth

 

 Las Fotos Project’s core values of exploration, inclusivity & representation, social justice, equity and community are interwoven throughout our programs and public activities. Programming is developed under the framework of “Participatory Photography”, a creative modality that asks participants to analyze their personal and social landscapes through the lens of photography. This process of self-exploration is designed to validate and empower the participants’ perspective, while also providing an avenue for self-guided reflection, reconciliation, and group dialogue.

Our Staff

Our Board

  • Emily Grijalva

    Board Chair

  • Remy De La Peza

    Secretary

  • Melissa Hernandez

    Project Manager, JCDecaux

  • Lisa Changadveja

    Chief of Staff, Move On

  • Zoila Darton

    Founder, WORD Agency

  • Sasha Ali

    Sr. Art Program Specialist, LA Metro

  • Rebecca Horta

    Arts Manager, City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs

 

 Support

By donating to Las Fotos Project, you are ensuring that girls and gender-expansive youth have access to free photography instruction, mentoring, and a community of support. From our core programming to our social enterprise initiatives to our events and community engagement opportunities, everything Las Fotos Project does ensures our students and the communities they represent are placed at the forefront. Your support ensures our organization continues to grow and continues empowering youth voices from communities of color.