Collective liberation through participatory storytelling.
Mission
The AjA Project is a compassionate space for young people, activists, visual artists and educators to engage critically with issues that affect our community and realize our collective liberation through participatory storytelling and the documentary arts.
Founded in 2000, The AjA Project is an acronym for the phrase Autosuficiencia Juntada con Apoyo, meaning “supporting self-sufficiency.”
Who is AjA?
We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in City Heights, San Diego, the most diverse part of the city. We work with immigrants, refugees, the transfronterizo community, incarcerated youth and people going through the process of transformation. At the heart of our programs is participatory photography. We believe that by working with youth to help them create their own images and tell their own stories, we can play a role in fostering their sense of imagination and possibility, for themselves and their communities. While our work with our students involves many eyes and focuses on many subjects, the horizon we are moving toward — with our many partners — is collective liberation and a more just world.
Programs
Journey
Journey participants use their photography skills to address themes such as identity, resettlement, migration, culture, community, advocacy + artivism.
STEAM OnDemand
Full STEAM Ahead is AjA’s after school program. Full STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) Ahead addresses 21st century skills.
Chop
My Food, My Power is a partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Portrait Paintings
A free virtual lesson by Teaching Artist Anna Lynch. For this assignment, you will select an artwork and recreate it in the form of a self portrait that includes your personality, style and culture. Visit Virtual Lessons to submit your portrait and contribute to a larger archive of memories that acts as a mirror of our community experiences.
Latest Updates
