Beyond the Lens: Empowering North Philadelphia Youth through Photography
“Photography has nothing to do with cameras.”
—Lucas Gentry
Photography Without Borders started in 2009 when Tony Rocco, a lifelong Philadelphia resident and former John B. Stetson Middle School teacher, wanted to introduce some of his students to his passion for photography and allow them to explore and develop their love for photography in an afterschool setting. “I started doing this for fun; it wasn’t an organization then.”
Fast-forward fifteen years, and Photography Without Borders has transformed from a single afterschool program to a full-fledged nonprofit organization, with a board of directors and staff serving programs in half a dozen North Philadelphia schools. Yet, the mission remains the same: to introduce students to photography as an outlet for expressing themselves and their personal stories.
In North Philadelphia, students face deep-rooted challenges. High poverty rates strain families’ access to basic necessities, while crime and the “East Coast’s largest open-air drug market” add to the hardship.
In communities like North Philadelphia and other low-income communities across the United States, afterschool programs like Photography Without Borders aren’t just a fun extra; they can make a real difference in students’ lives. A student who attends an afterschool program is less likely to be subjected to or partake in crime during the peak hours of youth crime—3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Similarly, students who attend afterschool programs are likely to see improved regular school-day attendance, leading to better academic outcomes for these students. Not only do these programs help low-income students, they also help their families maintain peace of mind. In an Afterschool Alliance survey, 83 percent of parents felt peace of mind knowing that their children were safe and supervised, while 80 percent of working parents said the afterschool program helped them keep employment.
The impact of afterschool programs on students is even more pronounced post-pandemic. As students attempt to return to a sense of normalcy and fill in learning gaps, post-pandemic afterschool programs have been an integral source of extra support that kids have needed. As the historic infusion of education funding from pandemic aid expires, providing resources and funding to maintain these afterschool programs is essential to sustain this extra support.
A high-quality afterschool program like Photography Without Borders is not only an extracurricular but also a pivotal support for students from low-income backgrounds.
While it’s easy to make after-school programs an afterthought, a high-quality afterschool program like Photography Without Borders is not only an extracurricular but also a pivotal support for students from low-income backgrounds.
Case Study: Photography Without Borders
The after-school program begins with students learning the fundamentals of photography. Eventually, students receive a camera to explore their community, take photos, and tell their stories. Once students feel they have captured the right shots, they can edit, print, and frame them at their after-school sessions.
Walking into a session in May, the latter part of this photo development process is in full effect as students place their finalized photos into protective sleeves and frames. In the editing room, a student focuses on editing a print based on his Puerto Rican roots. At the same time, Adam Cooper-Teran, a Photography Without Borders teacher, offers guidance and tips on improving the print.
Yet, the process doesn’t end with learning photography skills and developing the photos—these students experience all an artist’s life entails. The next step is to sell their photos. The students host street sales and attend art exhibitions, selling their photographs and keeping the profits, fostering a spirit of ownership and entrepreneurship to complement the program’s creativity and storytelling.
During the afternoon’s session, they are creating a poster to advertise their upcoming art show, “Emerging Artists Exhibit at Wissahickon Park.” They’ll take the poster to a local art show on Friday to spread the word and attract a bigger audience to their exhibit.
While a student joining the program can expect to leave with technical photography skills, Photography Without Borders is much more than photography. Students leave with a sense of belonging, empowerment, and self-discovery.
Sense of Belonging
For Jazmine, a twelfth-grade Science Leadership Academy student, Photography Without Borders isn’t just about cameras and pictures; it’s about forming lasting bonds through shared experiences. These connections transcend the program’s walls, extending into personal lives and homes. In fact, through the program, Jazmine and a few other friends have created an art collective called Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), named after the notion that everybody in a group should be included and free to express themselves. For Jazmine, she and FOMO sometimes stay up until 1:00 A.M. FaceTiming each other, doing homework on call, talking about photos, and discussing future art shows. Participating in Photography Without Borders, Jazmine has found a second family where creativity flourishes alongside mutual support.
Photograph by Photography Without Borders member Jazmine
Photography Without Borders cultivates these types of friendships. During every session, students have daily check-ins that go beyond photography. These check-ins serve as emotional touchpoints, providing a safe space for students like Aasya, a tenth-grade student at MAS (Muslim American Society) Leadership Academy, to express themselves openly. “We always have a daily question. Sometimes it gets really deep.” The check-ins can cover topics ranging from family to future goals. With each check-in and session, students get to know each other better and gradually develop friendships that can lead to art collectives like FOMO.
During the pandemic, students relied even further on Photography Without Borders for social activity through virtual sessions and social check-ins. It provided a consistent anchor amidst uncertain times, offering them a creative outlet and a supportive community. “The Zooms and the photography helped me look forward to something,” said Vicky, a ninth grader at Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
Whether through the daily check-ins, the extended friend groups formed, or the safe spaces provided during the pandemic, Photography Without Borders builds a community that feels like home regardless of students’ circumstances.
Empowerment through Entrepreneurship
At her first street art show, Vicky struggled to sell her photos. She set up her table and laid them out, but sheepishly only watched as people zoomed by her table on a busy North Philadelphia street. “I was so nervous and barely talking to anybody,” she said. Yet, with encouragement from the staff at Photography Without Borders, she soon realized that if she wanted to sell any prints that day, she would have to speak up. Eventually, when she did speak up, her photos began flying off the table. “At first, I was skeptical, like people are not gonna buy these, and then so many people bought them!” Not only did she sell them—she sold out. Twenty prints on the table and ten photos from her portfolio—sold at prices ranging from $10 to $25. Not only did she sell all her images, but she also got to keep the profits—nice money for a high school student.
Not only did she sell all her images, but she also got to keep the profits—nice money for a high school student.
While the staff at Photography Without Borders could have stepped in and sold Vicky’s art for her, this isn’t the program’s objective. Founder Tony Rocco said, “To me, the whole thing, the joy is seeing them discover it on their own.” Vicky shot, edited, and framed the photo, so selling the photo was an added experience that only further built her confidence and allowed her to grow, to the point where selling her art now is second nature.
Photograph by Photography Without Borders member Vicky
It doesn’t stop at selling prints at art shows. Students sometimes also get paid to take pictures at different events. For example, students participating in the program may get paid to take photos of a friend’s new clothing brand, a fifteenth birthday party (quinceanera), or a professional headshot. These different avenues are part of the goal of Photography Without Borders, which is to develop students’ photography skills while fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that empowers them.
Self-Discovery
Aasya has flourished in her first year with Photography Without Borders, experiencing significant personal growth. While some students have been a part of the program for years, this is her first year. However, anyone attending a program meeting for thirty minutes would find it hard to tell that Aasya is a new member. Initially feeling awkward, she now enjoys close relationships with teachers and peers, characterized by hugs and strong support. Aasya says that she has felt like she has grown in her public relations abilities, enhancing her ability to “do things like this” (the interview) and interact with people who want to know her story. She says she feels prepared for future academic success, noting the program has boosted her transcript and her goal to attend Temple University in Philadelphia.
Photograph by Photography Without Borders member Aasya
Jazmine also says she has seen growth in her passion for photography and understanding what she cares about. She talks about how she wants to attend protests and actively take pictures of what is happening. While a bad ankle has kept her sidelined, she says she will be there once she’s recovered, giving a voice to the political activists in her community one photo at a time.
Moving Forward
While Photography Without Borders has grown so much in the past fifteen years, founder Tony Rocco still has more he wants to give to the program. He acknowledges the current benefits and constraints, including the challenge of using the art rooms at different schools and nonprofits to host the program: “There’s a lot of benefits from us not having our own space. . . . But also it limits what you do when you’re in someone else’s house, right? You can’t use it whenever you want.” Establishing their own space would enable more dynamic and spontaneous activities and foster expanded programming.
Despite the logistical challenges, like having an established space, he remains committed to supporting North Philadelphia students through photography, showing students that the world is full of possibilities and that anything is possible if they put their effort behind it. From an afterschool program started by a passionate teacher to a nonprofit serving half a dozen schools, Photography Without Borders is about more than photography. It serves as a beacon of hope in North Philadelphia. And with more funding, Photography Without Borders and similar programs across the U.S. could expand their impact.
Currently, the most significant federal funding stream for afterschool programs is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (21st CCLC), which supports centers that provide targeted before- and after-school support to low-income students. In the 2023 school year, funding for these programs was just over $1.3 billion. In 2024, this funding remained at the same level, and again in the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget Request. With rising costs and the pandemic-recovery Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds winding down, increased funding for these programs is needed now more than ever. While most students are back in person at school, the effects of the pandemic still linger. As kids recoup from the pandemic’s effects on their socioemotional and academic outcomes—an increase in funding for 21st CCLC to support afterschool programs like Photography Without Borders and other afterschool programs isn’t just a desire; it is essential to supporting low-income students across the United States.
Jonathan Zabala was a senior policy associate at The Century Foundation, where he worked on issues related to educational equity, English language learners, and dual language immersion programs.
Beyond the Lens: Empowering North Philadelphia Youth through Photography
“Photography has nothing to do with cameras.”
—Lucas Gentry
Photography Without Borders started in 2009 when Tony Rocco, a lifelong Philadelphia resident and former John B. Stetson Middle School teacher, wanted to introduce some of his students to his passion for photography and allow them to explore and develop their love for photography in an afterschool setting. “I started doing this for fun; it wasn’t an organization then.”
Fast-forward fifteen years, and Photography Without Borders has transformed from a single afterschool program to a full-fledged nonprofit organization, with a board of directors and staff serving programs in half a dozen North Philadelphia schools. Yet, the mission remains the same: to introduce students to photography as an outlet for expressing themselves and their personal stories.
In North Philadelphia, students face deep-rooted challenges. High poverty rates strain families’ access to basic necessities, while crime and the “East Coast’s largest open-air drug market” add to the hardship.
In communities like North Philadelphia and other low-income communities across the United States, afterschool programs like Photography Without Borders aren’t just a fun extra; they can make a real difference in students’ lives. A student who attends an afterschool program is less likely to be subjected to or partake in crime during the peak hours of youth crime—3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Similarly, students who attend afterschool programs are likely to see improved regular school-day attendance, leading to better academic outcomes for these students. Not only do these programs help low-income students, they also help their families maintain peace of mind. In an Afterschool Alliance survey, 83 percent of parents felt peace of mind knowing that their children were safe and supervised, while 80 percent of working parents said the afterschool program helped them keep employment.
The impact of afterschool programs on students is even more pronounced post-pandemic. As students attempt to return to a sense of normalcy and fill in learning gaps, post-pandemic afterschool programs have been an integral source of extra support that kids have needed. As the historic infusion of education funding from pandemic aid expires, providing resources and funding to maintain these afterschool programs is essential to sustain this extra support.
While it’s easy to make after-school programs an afterthought, a high-quality afterschool program like Photography Without Borders is not only an extracurricular but also a pivotal support for students from low-income backgrounds.
Case Study: Photography Without Borders
The after-school program begins with students learning the fundamentals of photography. Eventually, students receive a camera to explore their community, take photos, and tell their stories. Once students feel they have captured the right shots, they can edit, print, and frame them at their after-school sessions.
Walking into a session in May, the latter part of this photo development process is in full effect as students place their finalized photos into protective sleeves and frames. In the editing room, a student focuses on editing a print based on his Puerto Rican roots. At the same time, Adam Cooper-Teran, a Photography Without Borders teacher, offers guidance and tips on improving the print.
Yet, the process doesn’t end with learning photography skills and developing the photos—these students experience all an artist’s life entails. The next step is to sell their photos. The students host street sales and attend art exhibitions, selling their photographs and keeping the profits, fostering a spirit of ownership and entrepreneurship to complement the program’s creativity and storytelling.
During the afternoon’s session, they are creating a poster to advertise their upcoming art show, “Emerging Artists Exhibit at Wissahickon Park.” They’ll take the poster to a local art show on Friday to spread the word and attract a bigger audience to their exhibit.
While a student joining the program can expect to leave with technical photography skills, Photography Without Borders is much more than photography. Students leave with a sense of belonging, empowerment, and self-discovery.
Sense of Belonging
For Jazmine, a twelfth-grade Science Leadership Academy student, Photography Without Borders isn’t just about cameras and pictures; it’s about forming lasting bonds through shared experiences. These connections transcend the program’s walls, extending into personal lives and homes. In fact, through the program, Jazmine and a few other friends have created an art collective called Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), named after the notion that everybody in a group should be included and free to express themselves. For Jazmine, she and FOMO sometimes stay up until 1:00 A.M. FaceTiming each other, doing homework on call, talking about photos, and discussing future art shows. Participating in Photography Without Borders, Jazmine has found a second family where creativity flourishes alongside mutual support.
Photography Without Borders cultivates these types of friendships. During every session, students have daily check-ins that go beyond photography. These check-ins serve as emotional touchpoints, providing a safe space for students like Aasya, a tenth-grade student at MAS (Muslim American Society) Leadership Academy, to express themselves openly. “We always have a daily question. Sometimes it gets really deep.” The check-ins can cover topics ranging from family to future goals. With each check-in and session, students get to know each other better and gradually develop friendships that can lead to art collectives like FOMO.
During the pandemic, students relied even further on Photography Without Borders for social activity through virtual sessions and social check-ins. It provided a consistent anchor amidst uncertain times, offering them a creative outlet and a supportive community. “The Zooms and the photography helped me look forward to something,” said Vicky, a ninth grader at Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
Whether through the daily check-ins, the extended friend groups formed, or the safe spaces provided during the pandemic, Photography Without Borders builds a community that feels like home regardless of students’ circumstances.
Empowerment through Entrepreneurship
At her first street art show, Vicky struggled to sell her photos. She set up her table and laid them out, but sheepishly only watched as people zoomed by her table on a busy North Philadelphia street. “I was so nervous and barely talking to anybody,” she said. Yet, with encouragement from the staff at Photography Without Borders, she soon realized that if she wanted to sell any prints that day, she would have to speak up. Eventually, when she did speak up, her photos began flying off the table. “At first, I was skeptical, like people are not gonna buy these, and then so many people bought them!” Not only did she sell them—she sold out. Twenty prints on the table and ten photos from her portfolio—sold at prices ranging from $10 to $25. Not only did she sell all her images, but she also got to keep the profits—nice money for a high school student.
While the staff at Photography Without Borders could have stepped in and sold Vicky’s art for her, this isn’t the program’s objective. Founder Tony Rocco said, “To me, the whole thing, the joy is seeing them discover it on their own.” Vicky shot, edited, and framed the photo, so selling the photo was an added experience that only further built her confidence and allowed her to grow, to the point where selling her art now is second nature.
It doesn’t stop at selling prints at art shows. Students sometimes also get paid to take pictures at different events. For example, students participating in the program may get paid to take photos of a friend’s new clothing brand, a fifteenth birthday party (quinceanera), or a professional headshot. These different avenues are part of the goal of Photography Without Borders, which is to develop students’ photography skills while fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that empowers them.
Self-Discovery
Aasya has flourished in her first year with Photography Without Borders, experiencing significant personal growth. While some students have been a part of the program for years, this is her first year. However, anyone attending a program meeting for thirty minutes would find it hard to tell that Aasya is a new member. Initially feeling awkward, she now enjoys close relationships with teachers and peers, characterized by hugs and strong support. Aasya says that she has felt like she has grown in her public relations abilities, enhancing her ability to “do things like this” (the interview) and interact with people who want to know her story. She says she feels prepared for future academic success, noting the program has boosted her transcript and her goal to attend Temple University in Philadelphia.
Jazmine also says she has seen growth in her passion for photography and understanding what she cares about. She talks about how she wants to attend protests and actively take pictures of what is happening. While a bad ankle has kept her sidelined, she says she will be there once she’s recovered, giving a voice to the political activists in her community one photo at a time.
Moving Forward
While Photography Without Borders has grown so much in the past fifteen years, founder Tony Rocco still has more he wants to give to the program. He acknowledges the current benefits and constraints, including the challenge of using the art rooms at different schools and nonprofits to host the program: “There’s a lot of benefits from us not having our own space. . . . But also it limits what you do when you’re in someone else’s house, right? You can’t use it whenever you want.” Establishing their own space would enable more dynamic and spontaneous activities and foster expanded programming.
Despite the logistical challenges, like having an established space, he remains committed to supporting North Philadelphia students through photography, showing students that the world is full of possibilities and that anything is possible if they put their effort behind it. From an afterschool program started by a passionate teacher to a nonprofit serving half a dozen schools, Photography Without Borders is about more than photography. It serves as a beacon of hope in North Philadelphia. And with more funding, Photography Without Borders and similar programs across the U.S. could expand their impact.
Currently, the most significant federal funding stream for afterschool programs is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (21st CCLC), which supports centers that provide targeted before- and after-school support to low-income students. In the 2023 school year, funding for these programs was just over $1.3 billion. In 2024, this funding remained at the same level, and again in the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget Request. With rising costs and the pandemic-recovery Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds winding down, increased funding for these programs is needed now more than ever. While most students are back in person at school, the effects of the pandemic still linger. As kids recoup from the pandemic’s effects on their socioemotional and academic outcomes—an increase in funding for 21st CCLC to support afterschool programs like Photography Without Borders and other afterschool programs isn’t just a desire; it is essential to supporting low-income students across the United States.
Tags: education, education funding, afterschool programs