The ninth annual Everyday DC photo exhibition presents a visual narrative of everyday life in the nation's capital through the eyes of over 200 D.C. students from 10 public middle schools in all four quadrants of the city. This exhibition is the culmination of a photojournalism Cornerstone unit designed by the Pulitzer Center and D.C. Public Schools' Arts division in 2016 and taught by D.C. Public Schools visual arts teachers with the support of Center staff and journalists each year.
Inspired by the Center-supported Everyday Africa project, Everyday DC asks students to analyze how Washington, D.C., is portrayed in the media, what role images play in defining how audiences understand places and people, and how they can compose images that more accurately visualize their everyday stories and experiences. A total of 123 photos were printed for a public exhibition at the Charles Sumner School. The slideshow below, which was also on display in the public exhibition, includes all 228 photos developed as part of the project throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
“This exhibit may change people’s minds about what they think D.C. is like because they will see D.C. through the eyes of people who are here every day,” according to the opening text written by eight students from MacFarland Middle School who curated the exhibition.
In a speech they shared with D.C. students and families at the exhibition opening, they offered some advice for all who engage with the images. They said, “When you walk around the exhibit, we hope you’ll put yourselves in the shoes of the people in the photos. Make sure to see their perspectives on their lives. See if you can relate to any of the pictures.”
The seven-lesson Everyday DC unit introduces critical thinking, photography, caption, and curation skills through interactive activities and engagement with instructional videos developed in partnership with Center-supported journalists. This project is made possible by D.C. Public Schools, the Pulitzer Center, and the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives.
