Ten student survivors participate in our newest storytelling method—the Prtrait Process—to mark 10 years since the Sandy Hook school shooting.
#DearNewtown
We gave ten student survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting a camera, a set of questions, and a challenge:
Will you share what you’ve learned with the world?
Jackie and Audrey
On healing, friendship, and honoring the ones we’ve lost.
Ashley and Lauren
On dunkin’ donuts, our younger selves, and not taking anything for granted.
Matthew and Rachel
On serving kids, new friendship and being 17
Brandon and Declan
On faith, a coin flip and feeling included
Cyrena and Sarah
On survivor's guilt and late night cookie dough
The Prtrait Process
Facilitated by Dear World founder Robert X Fogarty, pairs of young adults who survived the Sandy Hook shooting explored their shared experience through the Prtrait Process by Dear World.
During the Prtrait Process:
Students began with a self-portrait sketch exercise, asking themselves and each other, “How do I hope people see me?”
We gave them cameras in a professional studio setting and they photographed each other.
Then they interviewed each other with pre-selected introspective questions.
Once the Dear World session started, it felt more healing and natural than I ever could have expected. I’ve done countless interviews and none of them have matched the openness and comfort I felt while participating in the Prtrait process.”
- Jackie Hegarty, Executive Producer and Student Organizer of the Dear World: Newtown Project.
“The Prtrait Process is an exchange of shared experiences of loss, grief, and hope. It offers the opportunity to define oneself beyond sorrow and delve into conversations about our transformation on our own terms, at our own pace.”
— Dear World founder, Robert X. Fogarty.
Crediting Instructions for Journalists and Content Creators:
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The student’s images and videos are being made available with broad permission of use with no requests for licensing or compensation from Dear World. You need not get prior written approval from us unless you need to from your organization’s protocols. Feel free to read the stories and watch the episodes and use them how you best feel represents the series. You need not publish all stories in their entirety. We have parental consent forms and releases on file.
All digital stories must link back to http://www.dearworld.org or http://newtown.dearworld.org
To download assets CLICK HERE
Photos should be credited as follows: The Prtrait Process by Dear World. If being used on social media channels please tag @dearworld
For more information or to arrange interviews with Dear World founder Robert X. Fogarty or Sandy Hook student and executive producer Jackie Hegarty please contact Shay Riggin, shay@dearworld.com
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Executive Producer & Sandy Hook Student Organizer: Jackie Hegarty
Executive Producer: Robert X. Fogarty
Co-producer & Dear Newtown Process Co-designer: Maya Pen
Co-producer: Pamela Corkey
Director of Photography: Alex Hennen Payne and Alex Wiltz
Camera Operators: Kevin Mezick and Jordan Miller
Chief Lighting Technician: Lucas Porterfield
Grip: Felix Peña
Audio: Thomas Walsh
Production Designer: Jenna Rae Tooley
Digital Imaging Tech: Jennifer Arfi
PR:Cyn Hawkins Davis
Social Media and Website Producer: Shay Riggin
Special acknowledgments
Beth Schiffer Fine Art Printing
Karen Rice and John Higgins at Professional Graphics Systems & Services, Inc.
Alex & Bella at Country Kitchen Cafe in Brewster NY
Alex Boller Studio - for giving us a beautiful space that made this project possible.
The Parents and Guardians of the Students.
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Did parents sign release and consent forms since most participants are under the age of 18?
Yes, we have name, image and likeness release forms signed by all parents as well as the one participant over the age of 18. We can provide those to you if your editorial process requires them.
What is your policy if students want images or stories removed:
Our policy is that if any of these students want their name, image and likeness removed we will do so, no questions asked. We’d like to ask the same courtesy from media outlets who publish stories about the series to honor this as well.
How is the project funded?
Our non-profit organization, http://dearworld.org is funding the project and its mission is to fund storytelling initiatives that connect communities.
Are there any mental health or survivor resources that I can get involved with or contribute my time or resources to?
Yes, the One World Strong Foundation, Newtown Resilience Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Sandy Hook Promise are places we would recommend getting involved with.
I am a survivor of gun violence and would like to reach out directly to the students, would that be possible?
Please send who you are and what you’d like to talk about to hello@dearworld.org
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Complexity comes with sensitive topics including gun violence in America. To all community members who have been impacted by Sandy Hook, we hope and believe in this work and hope these stories contribute to the broader and ongoing discussion of gun violence in America. As a way for the 10 students to not only share their testimony with us, each participant received $1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice to tribute and honor the 10th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Shooting.
Feeling Inspired? Want to help us continue this work?
DearWorld.org is 501c3 tax-exempt organization.
