Our Solution

We designed and created “Not Defined By Diagnosis” a Photo Workshop Project that put cameras in the hands of teens and young adults with life-threatening illnesses, allowing them to “speak” about their experiences in words and images. We saw young people engrossed in the process of telling their own stories in a documentary fashion.

This program was originally developed and piloted at Montefiore Children’s Hospital in the Bronx, New York, with a grant from the Fred J. Epstein Pediatric Neurology Foundation. This workshop and its exhibit proved to be an innovative way to engage the imagination of these amazing young people. Fernando, a participant, named the project in the four words quoted above – summarizing his own experience with illness. We are grateful to all of our friends in the Bronx. None of whom are defined by diagnosis.

The project culminated in an exhibit at Montefiore Children’s Hospital and Annie was awarded the NY Post Liberty Medal for Leadership for the program.