About the Project

The Faces of the City Street Portraiture Project empowers teens from underserved communities to reclaim the lens and tell authentic stories of everyday Chicagoans. Through photography, youth artists capture the beauty, resilience, and diversity of life in our city’s streets—elevating voices often overlooked and building bridges of empathy through powerful visual storytelling. This project fosters creative expression, civic engagement, and a deeper connection between young people and the communities that shape them. 

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​The project is the brainchild of Educator Marta Garcia. As an educator, Marta fosters connection and community by helping young people find their voice through creative expression, while designing prosocial learning experiences that accelerate engagement and increase student achievement. Through reflective lesson planning, side-by-side classroom coaching, and demonstration, Marta supports students by creating relevant, student-centered experiences tailored to diverse learning needs—empowering youth to grow through art, storytelling, and authentic connection.