Walk through downtown New Haven and you’ll see them — outsized black-and-white photographs of young people with uplifting messages. On the side of a building on lower Chapel Street, Mijae of New Haven poses alongside the declaration, “I am becoming an educated black woman in America.” Next to her, a young man named Marquis says, […]
Walk through downtown New Haven and you’ll see them — outsized black-and-white photographs of young people with uplifting messages.
On the side of a building on lower Chapel Street, Mijae of New Haven poses alongside the declaration, “I am becoming an educated black woman in America.” Next to her, a young man named Marquis says, “I feel the need to make people feel better about themselves.”
Starting in 2018, the signs have been installed around the city, including on buildings and even on a rooftop.
The signs come courtesy of the New Haven “IMatter” project. The brainchild of photographer Rob Goldman, the program aims to empower teens and young adults through positive and inspiring messages. Goldman, who takes the portraits, is also an artist, author, speaker and educator who has taught at Wesleyan and Eastern Connecticut State University.
“We aim to enroll and unite the greater New Haven community in bold, honest communication regarding the social and emotional challenges facing their youth while simultaneously beautifying the city,” the organization’s website says.
