Through Your Lens Photo Exhibit Opens on Capitol Hill Next Week!

By Mark Bishop, Deputy Director

We're thrilled announce that photos and stories from our Through Your Lens contest (which we've been blogging about over the last few weeks) will be shown in a special exhibit on Capitol Hill next week! The Through Your Lens exhibit will be on display from Oct. 5-9 in the Russell Rotunda of the Senate office building on Capitol Hill.

The exhibit will open as Congress is considering legislation to fund the repair, renovation and construction of safe, healthy schools.

The photos and stories in the exhibit were submitted by students, teachers and community members across the country. The exhibit provides an honest window into our public school facilities: the parts that are inspiring and the parts we need to change.

Despite the importance of school buildings to teaching, learning, health, environment and community vibrancy, many of our nation’s public school buildings remain in poor condition. With legislation to provide federal support for school construction, modernization, and renovation moving through both the House and Senate, the time to act is now.

Help us by getting involved. There are three things you can do:

• Join us at the exhibit!  If you're in the DC area next week, come and see the exhibit. Or come to our exhibit opening event on Monday, Oct. 5 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm to meet some of the student photographers and hear from advocates for safe, healthy schools. (Click here to RSVP.) If you can't make it, you can always view the photos online.

• Invite your legislators to the exhibit! Send a message to your legislators telling them to stop by the rotunda and view the exhibit. We want to make sure they see the reality of our nation's school building conditions.

• Help spread the word about the exhibit! Click here for links or sample messages to share Through Your Lens with your friends.

We're excited for the opportunity to bring these images to DC -- and we hope to see you at the exhibit next week!