Photography Professor Claire Garoutte teamed with community partners to create a new Summer Youth Media program for teens from Yesler Terrace.  Their photographs and videos are on display in the Vachon gallery in the Fine Arts Department.

Yesler Terrace, a public housing complex built between 1941 and 1943, is a highly diverse community located just east of Seattle’s downtown. On average, its residents earn less than 30% of the city’s median income. Redevelopment will replace existing buildings with a mixed-income community.

Using photography and video, the students examined the history of Yesler Terrace, the diversity within their community, and the potential impact upon this community of the redevelopment project.

“In addition to the images and voices heard in the exhibit, the program helped build community connections,” Garoutte said.

The 6-week program was a partnership with RecTech, The Multimedia Resources and Training Institute, Youth in Focus, and the College of Arts and Sciences Fine Arts Department. The program aims to document the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace over the next 15 years. This program was supported by the Seattle University Youth Initiative and Missions funds.

The College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college in Seattle University, offers 42 undergraduate majors, 37 minors, and 7 master’s degrees, including an MFA in Arts Leadership.