Community Engagement through Photography

Art & Principled Problem Solving

This summer members of the Photography Club at Guilford joined with Glenhaven Community 5th to 9th grade students twice a week for six weeks in a collaborative photography camp. Genhaven students were encouraged to find a language of self expression through the use of digital cameras. Concepts explored included focus, storytelling, perspective and context as they relate to picture taking. Emphasis was placed on serving and friendship in these meetings while Guilford students assisted the younger students with both the technical and expressive aspects of photography. In addition to teaching a useful art, Guilford students engaged their Glenhaven counterparts, primarily recent immigrants to the U.S., in conversation about a variety of cultures and the challenges associated with becoming adjusted to living in Greensboro.

Through a collaborative effort with the College's Cooking Club and Educational Tutor Program these two groups held an International Cultural Sharing Day. Glenhaven students took Guilford students to various markets in Greensboro the two groups shared favorite dishes and cooking styles. Cuisine from Mexico, Vietnam and parts of Africa were tasted while various songs, dances and stories from home countries were shared. Glenhaven and Guilford students documented this celebration of cultures with the skills learned in the summer photography camp. An exhibition of the photos is planned for spring of 2009 in part to help bring awareness to the College community about the Glenhaven Community Center and its indespensible programs assisting newcomers to our country and city.

Another photography camp is being planned for spring of 2009 as the Center for Principled Problem Solving continues this special dialogue with the Glenhaven Community Center.

Guilford Student Hannah Hawkins presented the project at the Fourth Annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium held at Appalachian State University on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008.

A photo of the Guilford College lake taken by

Glenhaven Community Center student,

Blamon Nimely. See more photographs online.

About PPS: Education that Transforms Our Students, Our Community, Our World

The Center for Principled Problem Solving at Guilford College was established in 2007 and is charged with organizing and coordinating campus efforts to incorporate Principled Problem Solving across the curriculum. The CPPS is also a resource for students, faculty, staff, and community members, helping them to identify and secure resources necessary for examing our community's core values and teachings and in putting them to work in the world.

Guilford's Strategic Long Term Plan,Creative Leadership for the 21st Century, states that Principled Problem Solving (PPS) can be understood as the central, unifying theme of the transformative Guilford College eduation. As such, PPS seeks to embody the practical liberal arts tradition for which Guilford is known, identifying problems and opportunities in need of attention and bringing it to them. PPS is shaped by the College's Quaker heritage and driven by our core values in seeking to fulfill the potential of education to reshape and renew our world. Principled Problem Solving contributes not only to a practical education but also, through active engagement in real world situations, contributes innovative solutions to existing and emerging problems in the community, state, nation and world.

More information on Principled Problem Solving is available on our About PPS web page and in a feature article from the Winter 2006 Guilford College Magazine posted in the Related Links box on this page.

Questions about the Center and the work of Principled Problem Solving should be directed to:

Mark Justad, CPPS Director, (336) 316-2853, justadmj@guilford.edu.

Center for Principled Problem Solving

122 King Hall

(336) 316-2853

cpps@guilford.edu