Critical Exposure

A reminder that Juneteenth is exactly one week away 🖤 What does this holiday mean to you? And what will you do, for your community, to honor those who came before us?

Tell us in the comments ⬇️

Free country. As long as you don’t say anything 😬🥲

Meet Yasameen K., an 11th grader from DC, who captured this powerful moment through her lens as part of Critical Exposure’s Stories for Action, Spring 2026 program:

“YOUR BOOK PERFECT AMERICA”

“This photo displays artwork created by Scotty Ramon, an American artist. This artwork has been displayed all around DC, as a form of protest against our administration. This photo displays the art piece being torn down, but this is not the first time around my neighborhood, Brookland, where there were posters consisting of President Donald Trump and Bill Clinton titled ‘Release the Files’. These were torn down repeatedly over a span of two weeks. This represents how voices are constantly shut down, making seeking justice nowadays seem morally wrong. Our administration claims that our country is free and all voices matter, however, whenever we express our concerns, it is immediately shut down. “Your book perfect America” represents how the administration wants to paint the image that our country is perfect, when that is not the case. Lives are lost, families are torn apart, and our society is out of place.” - Yasameen K.

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At Critical Exposure, we believe DC youth deserve the tools to document their world, raise their voices, and spark real change. Photography is that tool. Students like Gloria are proof of what’s possible when young people are given the space to create.

📸 Follow along as our students share their DC, one frame at a time.

Scream with Pride 🏳️‍🌈

“This photo is loud on purpose. It’s a release of everything I’ve had to hold in. The pride, the frustration, the anxiety, the power, and the crashout of it all. For me, it isn’t something to be quiet about. Mental health is layered and complex.”

- Michah K., 12th Grade, Reach Inc., Summer 2025

Paul Robeson said it decades ago…and it’s still true.

At some point each of us must pick a side. Everyday youth in DC choose to resist harmful narratives, document their stories and organize for change. We will always pick their side.

Stand with us.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more about our work.

Paul Robeson said it decades ago…and it still hits.

Art is not neutral. It never was.

Critical Exposure believes in the power of young people in DC to document their world, demand change, and make their voices impossible to ignore. That’s not a hobby. That’s a choice.

And we’ve made ours.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more about our work.

This isn’t a war zone…so why are they here?

Meet Mikaia P., 11th grader from DC, who captured this powerful moment through her lens as part of Critical Exposure’s Stories for Action, Spring 2026 program:

“UNTITLED” by Mikaia P., 11th Grade

“The National Guard inside Insomnia Cookies turns a normally casual and cozy spot into a reminder of how major events and public unrest can affect everyday life in the community. This picture exemplifies the infiltration of the national guard in our community, but it also shows that they are human, and this task is often just an employment opportunity, which should reduce popular opinions that paint them individually in a negative light.”

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At Critical Exposure, we believe DC youth deserve the tools to document their world, raise their voices, and spark real change. Photography is that tool. Students like Gloria are proof of what’s possible when young people are given the space to create.

📸 Follow along as our students share their DC, one frame at a time.

🚌 Every stop tells a story, and so does every young person in DC.

Meet Gloria C., a 10th grader from DC, who captured this powerful moment through her lens as part of Critical Exposure’s Stories for Action, Spring 2026 program:

“EVERY STOP MATTERS” By Gloria C.

“Throughout Washington DC many people, young and old, girl or boy, use public transportation to get around the city. Spread around various stops, the Metropolitan Rail System is a key part of DC life. Every day, people are moving to get to places they need to go to, but they don’t realize how connected we truly are. As we go on these trains and buses, all interconnected around the city. This demonstrates the importance of public transportation as each ride tells a story. Every stop counts.”

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At Critical Exposure, we believe DC youth deserve the tools to document their world, raise their voices, and spark real change. Photography is that tool. Students like Gloria are proof of what’s possible when young people are given the space to create.

📸 Follow along as our students share their DC, one frame at a time.

✊🏾 “I learned I’m passionate about community organizing.”

That’s what Jay A., 19, shared at our final YOC Session of the year…and she’s not stopping at Critical Exposure. She’s ready to lead in DC, on her own terms.

This is what youth power looks like: young people discovering who they are and stepping into it out loud.

⬇️ What’s something YOU learned about yourself this year? Drop it in the comments, and tag a young person who’s stepping into their power.

♻️ Share this if you believe DC’s next generation of leaders is already here.