Exhibit Showcases Ties Between Boston Residents, Historic Mayoral Race
Lily Bohlke – Commonwealth News Service
BOSTON — A new photo exhibit in the Seaport District showcases the surprising ties between a wide swath of Boston residents.
The Boston Uncornered Photo Project features larger-than-life portraits taken by photographer John Huet of the six people running for Boston mayor, beside former gang members and community leaders.
They’re accompanied by stories of a time each person felt cornered by a negative experience, like racism, a traumatic event, or people not believing in them, and how they pushed through.
Michelle Caldeira, co-founder and senior vice president of Boston Uncornered, based in Dorchester, said it is important to amplify a variety of voices.
“So that the world can see that the gang-involved individuals are no different than you or me,” Caldeira explained. “They have hopes, they have dreams, they have goals; they just need resources and opportunities to be able to achieve those things.”
The photo exhibit is open to the public until Sep. 15.
Caldeira pointed out the upcoming mayoral election is a milestone for Boston. Five of the six candidates are people of color, including Acting Mayor Kim Janey, the first woman and the first Black person to serve in her role.
“This is 200 years in the making, right, the first Black woman leading the city,” Caldeira remarked. “We can ‘uncorner’ Boston, we can end violence, we can create opportunities for young people in Boston.”
Since the Uncornered program started, incidents of crime have been three times less prevalent in neighborhoods where Uncornered students were most engaged. Caldeira emphasized the portraits also are beautiful works of art, with powerful stories, and urged people to see them in person.