VAPA
Journey House’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program was founded in 2022 to support the development of artists and creative people that have experienced the child welfare system. Our goal is to assist community members in finding self-determination—the ability to define, name and speak for oneself—through an intentional art practice. VAPA staff work alongside community members in developing their original creative ideas, assisting in building a professional portfolio of their art practice, generate platforms to uphold the creative work of community members, and locate opportunities to showcase artists’ work.
WE ARE HEALING
All creative labor conducted for the We Are Healing series is led by The Foster Youth Photo Crew (FYPC)---a team of former foster youth photographers challenging the visual language that traditionally confines foster youth to a harmful stereotype.
FYPC was born in 2020 by foster youth located across California's Bay Area. The crew consisted of four foster youth shooting on disposable cameras---creating personal archives through an analog medium and generating artist zines accompanied by original writings from each artist. In 2022, the Foster Youth Photo Crew transitioned to Southern California and secured multiple grants to assist in the continuation of the program---equipment purchases have been made possible through generous donors. Now, all FYPC members have access to 35mm SLR cameras and two medium format 120mm cameras. In 2024, the photo crew consists of 15 members, with crew members located across the state of California!
