Youthlight is an award-winning and  comprehensive 35 week after-school photography and media literacy program designed to provide middle and high school youth access to quality, in-depth photography instruction, media literacy education, and leadership development.  Working in Central and Southwest Baltimore City, Youthlight empowers 30 youth to document their lives, explore their creativity, and encourages them to engage as activists and leaders in their neighborhoods through photography and media creation.  The participants in Youthlight utilize photography to become their own advocates producing unique images not only of the areas they inhabit, but of the dreams and perceptions that live within them.

The Youthlight Photography Project program is based at two respected after school centers in Hampden and Southwest Baltimore providing students with a safe space to create, positive adult role models, empowering activities, and alternates to violence and high risk behavior.  Youthlight builds the self esteem and the critical media skills of the children as they relish the excitement and pride of making their own images. 

Since 2001, Youthlight students have created a revealing and powerful portfolio of inner city life and community in Baltimore.  From graffiti marked and drug strewn corners, to smiling neighbors and family dinners the participants of Youthlight have utilized photography to reflect their voice back to their community producing work that is real, disturbing, and poignant. The images they create are documents of the complexities of their neighborhoods and families, and the longing to create and be something better.  With the help of Youthlight,  disadvantaged children in Baltimore champion their own ideas, tackle everyday problems by placing a critical eye on their surroundings, and ultimately recognize their own power and dignity, the true seeds of peace.

Youthlight was founded by Marshall Clarke, a local freelance photographer who wanted to share his love of images and making photographs with city children.   With the help of an Open Society Institute Fellowship grant, Marshall began the Youthlight photography and media literacy project in November 2001.