Maya McFadden Photo
Photographer, founder, and director of “IMatter” Rob Goldman thanks the youth for their courage.
New Haven teens saw themselves when they entered City Hall Tuesday — in banner-sized portraits.
The occasion was the opening of the latest phase of the “IMatter” project, which hangs banner portraits of young people throughout the city along with messages about their hopes and dreams.
The latest banners are now hanging in City Hall, where city government’s Youth Services Department, which oversees the project, and 94.3 WYBC Radio held a reception Tuesday for the participants and their families.
A new feature, called “IMatter” Voices, was launched at the event. with the first two audio-enabled displays that work by using a smartphone to scan QR codes. A 59” by 78” interactive aluminum panel was also showcased as a preview of an upcoming September installment that will be a nearly 10-foot-high illuminated tower in the Dixwell Neighborhood with 36 IMatter photos.
One participant, Nyla Conaway. will be attending Smith College this fall with a focus on psychology and education. She learned about IMatter through a friend before graduating from Wilbur Cross High School. Conaway went through the project process in May with photographer Rob Goldman, who she said helped her to validate her statement and ideas for her photos.
“It captures the small and big things that make up New Haven,” Conaway said.
Kimberly Edwards; “Now he doesn’t just matter to me. He matters to the world.”
Kimberly Edwards and family of Benjamin Brown attended the event to see the display of Brown’s banner once again, this time alongside an “IMatter” Voices audio. Brown’s banner originally was displayed outside the Goffe Street Armory. The recording is an interview with Edwards; Brown died in March after battling a brain tumor and diagnosis of cancer in 2017. Edwards said that WYBC’s Juan Castillo had offered to interview Brown in March while he was in the hospital but scheduling didn’t work out.
When Brown expressed interest in participating in the project he was healing from a recent surgery and going through radiation treatment for his cancer. Edwards attended the photo shoot with her son the day after his 16th birthday. She brought along with her a hat and a hoodie in case Brown changed his mind about taking his photos showing his hair loss. “He wasn’t worried about his self-image at all. His never-ending strength really showed that day,” she said.
Yaniel Ramos, 16, a rising senior at Common Ground High School. said he learned about IMatter through an Instagram post and immediately got in contact with Goldman.
Ramos said that he was interested in being a part of the project because of the limited representations of Hispanic youth in New Haven. “I hope my picture inspires youth that look like me to know their voice matters and should always be respected,” he said.
An “IMatter” photo booth was at the event for guests to get their picture taken, create their word bubble and have it posted on the “IMatter” social media.
IMatter’s previous New Haven banner projects are displayed at the Goffe Street Armory, Dollar Tree Store (Chapel Street), LoRicco Towers (Crown Street) and Dixwell Fire Station.
“This is yet another celebration of valuing, engaging, and prioritizing our youth’s voices,” youth services chief Jason Bartlett said at the Tuesday event.
Castillo from “The Juan Castillo Morning Show” conducted interviews with youth that were broadcasted live on 94.3 WYBC during the event.