Maryland Youth Use Photography to Advance Sexual Violence Prevention Initiatives
Twenty-three Baltimore youth showcased their photography exploring boundaries, consent, and social connection at "#nofilter: A Youth-led Photovoice Journey," on Tuesday, June 3, at Westminster Hall in Baltimore.
Neveah Boone discusses photos about boundaries with a visitor at the #nofilter exhibit at Westminster Hall.
The exhibition was the culmination of a community-engaged research study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Social Work and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law's Erin Levitas Initiative for Sexual Violence Prevention, in partnership with the Erin Levitas Foundation and HeartSmiles, a Baltimore youth leadership organization.
"#nofilter: A Youth-led Photovoice Journey" debuted the work of 23 participants, ages 13-17, who over the past several months captured powerful images exploring boundaries, consent, and social connection through an innovative research methodology called Photovoice.
The photo exhibition featured youth presenters explaining their photographs and the insights they reveal about preventing sexual violence and fostering healthy relationships. While describing a photo about boundaries, 16-year-old Tyjae Belford explained the importance of mutual respect in relationships.
"If you're in a relationship and your boyfriend crosses a boundary that he didn't know before, and you tell him, 'Hey, you crossed my boundary,' he shouldn't cross it again," she explained. "And if he does, you need to think hard about your relationship.”
The study, led by University of Maryland School of Social Work faculty Laurie Graham, PhD, MSW, and Theda Rose, PhD, MSW, aims to infuse youth voices into sexual violence prevention initiatives.
"By understanding how young people perceive key concepts like boundaries and consent, we can develop more effective prevention programs," said Graham. "Their work represents authentic youth voices on issues affecting their generation," added Rose.
For participants like Belford, the project has been transformative beyond the research itself. "This project gave me more confidence and made me get out of my shell," she said. "The people I worked with encouraged me to speak up if you got something to say. It really gave me confidence to be myself."
"This project gives young people a platform to inform and reshape adolescent sexual violence prevention programs, including our E.R.I.N. Talk ("Empathy. Respect. Integrity. Nurturing Connections") curriculum," said Quince Hopkins, JD, LLM, JSD, director of the Erin Levitas Initiative at Maryland Carey Law.
Launched in 2018, the Erin Levitas Initiative for Sexual Violence Prevention takes a public health approach to sexual violence prevention, and works to address sexually harmful societal norms early in adolescence using restorative justice principles.
E.R.I.N. Talk trains and deploys skilled facilitators to lead sexual assault primary prevention restorative circles in Baltimore City middle schools. The program developed by Maryland Carey Law's Levitas Initiative and the Erin Levitas Foundation, uses a restorative justice framework to engage middle school students in activities that help them identify and reject the ideas that contribute to sexual violence.
"We are incredibly excited that the voices and perspectives of Maryland youth are being woven into the E.R.I.N. Talk curriculum," said Marissa Jachman, executive director of the Erin Levitas Foundation. "This moment feels like a powerful milestone in a program we've nurtured for years. Seeing young people share what they've learned through their own lens is what this work is all about. We're grateful for everyone who has supported this project and program."
The Photovoice project, which began in 2024, was made possible by a $500,000 state grant from the Maryland General Assembly.