BRATTLEBORO — Vermont Center for Photography, in partnership with Turning Point of Windham County, has completed its first “Focus Forward” class, an eight-week program in digital photography taught free-of-charge to people in recovery from addiction.
This program was made possible by support from the Thomas Thompson Trust, the Vermont Community Foundation, and many local private donors.
VCP's goal in Focus Forward is to offer the craft of photography as a tool of creative expression in the recovery process and to help break down the stigma that often separates people in recovery from the larger community.
The instructor is Brattleboro-based photographer Liz LaVorgna, “whose compassionate heart and teaching style contributed greatly to the success of the class,” according to a news release.
To celebrate the completion of the first Focus Forward class, participants' work will be on display in VCP's new Student Gallery, opening on Gallery Walk, Friday, Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m., VCP will host a reception and award ceremony in their main gallery, in which Focus Forward participants will share their stories and receive an honorary membership to VCP.
Everyone in the community is invited to attend, especially those in the work of addiction recovery. Focus Forward will be offered again in the spring of 2020, with dates to be announced.