What is Photovoice?

Frontline Community:
School-Age Children

"Children need to get out, and sometimes they feel like getting out in the sun. How he plays, and runs! I like to watch him have fun, but I am worried that extreme heat and direct exposure to the sun can hurt him. With so few trees and no guarantee that the fountains will work, we must carry enough bottles of water, and we must minimize the time spent in the park.- Nohemi"
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Frontline Community:
Outdoor Workers

"My husband works in construction. During heat waves, construction workers are vulnerable to dehydration and heat shock, and the effects of intense heat can increase the risk of occupational accidents. Once I heard a construction worker say that on a very hot day, he felt like his shoe soles were melting when walking on a roof. What protections do labor regulations offer to protect these workers from the intense heat and their health risks? - Roxana"

Frontline Community:
People Living in an Urban Heat Island

"Here is the view of Chestnut Street standing at Beacon Street. The lack of trees and vegetation is notable, particularly given the proximity to the loud and dirty Tobin Bridge. - Susana

Aquí está la vista de la calle Chestnut desde estar parado en Beacon Street. La falta de árboles y vegetación es notable, particularmente dada la proximidad al ruidoso y sucio puente Tobin."

Frontline Community:
Low income Households

"On this street in Chelsea, free food is distributed once a week. People are waiting in line early in the morning, waiting for their turn, for a long time. It is hard to have use this resource to keep going every day, but the elderly, on hot days, these people must wait under the sun until their turn, without being able
to take refuge in the shade What could the city do about this?
– Nohemi"
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Frontline Community:
Indoor Workers (Kitchens + housekeeping)

"This is my workplace. It is an enclosed space, and when we cook the heat and humidity feels very intense; it feels unbearable. Since the room is very small, we don't have space for the fan stand on the floor. So, we hang the fan head in the coat hanger. We know it is not an ideal solution, but it is all we can do. - Mayra"
"Este es mi lugar de trabajo. Es un lugar cerrado, y al cocinar se acumulan en la habitación la humedad y el calor intenso, que se hace insoportable. Como el cuarto es muy pequeño no tenemos donde poner un ventilador de suelo, pues las patas no caben. Así que colgamos la cabeza del ventilador en el perchero. Sabemos que no es una solución ideal, pero es todo lo que podemos hacer. - Mayra"
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Frontline Community:
Outdoor Commuters, People with Disabilities

"Broadway St. near Carry Ave. around 1:30pm. Absolutely no protection from the sun. The person waiting at the bus stop and the person in the wheelchair (and who’s pushing the wheelchair) are sweltering in the sun. It definitely sheds light on the need for protection in the City." - Racquel

"Broadway cerca de la Avenida Cary, el sábado alrededor de la 1:30 de la tarde. Absolutamente ninguna protección del sol. La persona que espera en la parada del autobús y la persona en la silla de ruedas (y que empuja la silla de ruedas) se están sofocando al sol. Definitivamente refleja la necesidad de protección en la Ciudad." - Racquel

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Frontline Community:
People without AC or Inability to Pay for Electricity

"This is an old and inefficient air conditioner unit. It is difficult to save energy with it because I have to keep it on all night to be effective. I worry about the excessive electricity bill because of this AC."- Noemy

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Photovoice photos and captions above were shared by the C-HEAT photovoice project, a partnership between Boston University School of Public health and GreenRoots Inc., Funded by Barr Foundation. For more information, see here.

Photovoice puts affected people and communities at the center of research.

Focus group facilitators may use the SHOWED method to help participants craft an impactful narrative for their photo.

S What do you see ?
H What is happening in the picture?
O How does this relate to our lives?
W Why does this happen?
E How could this image educate
D What can we do about it?

What is unique about the CATCH Photovoice project?

While traditionally photovoice groups are facilitated by academic researchers, this summer photovoice projects are being led by community researchers who are facilitating the photovoice groups.. Community facilitators understand local needs and strengths, allowing them to guide discussions to identify and highlight community-informed calls to action and solutions.CATCH Photovoice focus groups are facilitated by staff of Community-Based Organization partners, rather than academic researchers. Community facilitators understand local needs and strengths, allowing them to guide discussions to identify and highlight community-informed calls to action and solutions.

Several community organizations have engaged residents in Boston, New Orleans and Phoenix to talk about heat, energy and cooling solutions. Our partners include:
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Boston organizations participating in CATCH's photovoice project:

More about our Boston community partners:

Chinatown Community Land Trust
The mission of the Chinatown Community Land Trust is to stabilize the future of Chinatown as a neighborhood for working class families and a regional hub for the Greater Boston Chinese community. They work for community control of the land, development without displacement, permanently affordable housing, and shared neighborhood spaces, consistent with the vision of the Chinatown Master Plan.
Instagram: @chinatownclt
LinkedIn: @Chinatown Community Land Trust
Email: participate@ChinatownCLT.org
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Codman Square Nieghborhood Development Corp
The Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp mission is to build a cohesive and resilient community in Codman Square and South Dorchester, develop affordable housing and commercial spaces that are safe and sustainable, and promote economic stability for low- and moderate-income residents of all ages.
Instagram: @codmansqndc
LinkedIn: @Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
Contact form: find here
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Chinese Progressive Association
The Chinese Progressive Association is a grassroots community organization which works for full equality and empowerment of the Chinese community in the Greater Boston area and beyond. Their activities seek to improve the living and working conditions of Chinese Americans and to involve ordinary community members in making decisions that affect our lives.
Instagram: @cpajustice
LinkedIn: @Chinese Progressive Association - CPA Boston
Contact form: find here‍

Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative
The Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative (FICC) is made up of three Boston CDCs: Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, and Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation. FICC seeks racial, climate, and health equity and justice in our communities through: increased affordable housing, excellent public transit, pathways to good jobs and financial resilience, sustainability innovations, expanded green space and opportunities for active living, and vibrant public places.
Instagram: @fairmountcollab
LinkedIn: @Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative
Contact form: find here (top right corner)
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Community photovoice facilitators: Kendra Beaver and Brenda Echeverry
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Chinatown(Chinatown Community Land Trust and Chinese Progressive Association): Boston’s Chinatown has been a cultural and community hub for Chinese immigrants and Asian American communities since the late 1800s, despite displacement caused by highway construction and urban renewal.

Codman Square, Dorchester(Codman Square NDC and Fairmount Indigo member office): Codman Square grew from a historic crossroads into a neighborhood commercial and civic center as Dorchester expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Upham’s Corner, Dorchester(Fairmount Indigo member office: Dorchester Bay EDC): Upham’s Corner is a historic Dorchester commercial center known for its neighborhood businesses and cultural landmarks, including the Strand Theatre.

Hyde Park(Fairmount Indigo member office: Southwest Boston CDC): Boston’s southernmost neighborhood was once an independent town and became part of the city in 1912.
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Phoenix organizations participating in CATCH's photovoice project:

More about our Phoenix community partner:

Unlimited Potential: To ignite unity, pride, and dignity through education, advocacy, and equitable opportunities grounded in acceptance and respect—strengthening individuals, families, and communities.
Instagram: @unlimitedpotentialaz
LinkedIn: @Unlimited Potential AZ
Contact form: find here (bottom of the page)
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Community photovoice facilitators: Emma Viera, Masavi Perea, and Juana Silva
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South Mountain / South Phoenix(Unlimited Potential): South Phoenix has deep agricultural roots and a long history of Black and Latino community leadership and organizing in response to segregation and disinvestment.

New Orleans organizations participating in CATCH's photovoice project:

More about our New Orleans community partners:

Hollygrove-Dixon Neighborhood Association: To build a better Hollygrove-Dixon Neighborhood for future and present generations. The mission is rooted in the belief that Hollygrove-Dixon-driven solutions are crucial to addressing environmental and resilience issues faced by Hollygrove-Dixon residents.
Contact form: find here (bottom of this page)

New Orleans East Green Infrastructure Collective: To provide residents with the knowledge and tools to manage stormwater where it falls. This helps reduce flooding, boost community resilience, promote environmental responsibility, and improve residents’ quality of life by encouraging innovative stormwater management solutions.
Instagram: @n.o.east_g_i_collective
LinkedIn: @New Orleans East Green Infrastructure Collective
Phone: 504-766-5579. ‍

Community photovoice facilitators: Raymond Sweet, Catherine Sands, and Jackie Baham
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Hollygrove-Dixon(Hollygrove-Dixon Neighborhood Association): Dixon, also known as North Hollygrove, is a small neighborhood with deep connections to neighboring Hollygrove and a history of resident-led community initiatives.

New Orleans East(New Orleans East Green Infrastructure Collective): New Orleans East is a broad area made up of many neighborhoods, including communities shaped by Black and Vietnamese American residents and their organizing and rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.

Photovoice testimonies

"It was nice to have a learning space with people who have shared interest in environmental justice. I learned about how other people deal with the heat, and they have good ideas - like putting ice in front of a fan."
"Taking photos is useful to help express things. A photo can clearly show where something is when it's hard to describe with words."
"I learned that Chinatown has more heat than other places like Charlestown or Back Bay. I had to think more about how I take the photo and what I should say, and how to relate it to heat and my life."

Photovoice resources

Photovoice was created by Caroline Wang and Mary Ann Burris in the early 1990s. Other helpful photovoice articles here.
C-HEAT is another photovoice project at Boston University, a partnership between Boston University School of Public health and GreenRoots Inc., Funded by Barr Foundation. For more information, see here.
Click here for tips on how to take a photo for photovoice, by Julia Cumes.

Community Engagement: Elevating Local Voices