Snapshots of Literacy: Understanding Raleigh's Literacy Resources through Photos

As part of the Raleigh Literacy Zone initiative, we are inviting parents and caregivers to tell us more about how their families use literacy and the kinds of resources they would like. Using ideas from Photovoice, we are asking people to take photographs, using their smartphone or tablet, that shows they and their kids read and write in their everyday lives. We’ll then use these photos to have conversations about literacy resources and needs in Raleigh, both during a one-on-one interview and a focus group with other parents and caregivers. 

The project team will gather your confidential feedback about Raleigh’s literacy resources and areas of need. We will compile and share that information with local community partners in order to support the great things already happening in Raleigh and to direct new resources to where they are most needed.

Any parent or caregiver who: (a) lives in the Raleigh community of Memphis; and (b) takes care of one or more children under age 18 can participate. 

You will be asked to: 

• Attend a 30-minute informational meeting (offered in-person or on Zoom). 
• Take photographs (with your smartphone or tablet) over a two-week period of how you and your family use literacy.
• Participate in a 90-minute interview where you share and discuss those photos with a project team member (offered in-person or on Zoom).
• Participant in a 90-minute focus group with other parents and caregivers, where you’ll be asked about literacy resources and needs in the Raleigh community (offered in-person only). 

You get to decide what you’re comfortable sharing! We’ll ask you to show and discuss 10-20 photos at your interview with a project team member. During that interview, you will decide if you are willing to let us keep a copy of any of those photos and if you would like to share those photos with others at a focus group. 

We will tell you more about the photo-taking process at our informational sessions: you can sign up here. 

If you can’t make one of the currently scheduled informational sessions, we plan to schedule additional sessions in the future. Share your contact information, and we will contact you with alternative options.

You can earn up to $200, divided into $100 for participating in a 90-minute interview and $100 for participating in a 90-minute focus group.   

In order to participate in the interview or the focus group, you’ll need to attend a 30-minute informational session and take some photos 

The project team will gather your confidential feedback about Raleigh’s literacy resources and areas of need. We will compile and share that information with local community partners in order to support the great things already happening in Raleigh and to direct new resources to where they are most needed.

The Raleigh Literacy Landscape Analysis is a collaborative project between Literacy Mid-South and Rhodes College, in support of the Raleigh Literacy Zone initiative. 

The project leaders are Laura Taylor (Associate Professor of Educational Studies and Urban Studies), and Hope Robinson (student in Educational Studies and Latin American/ Latinx Studies), both at Rhodes College.

Share your contact information, and we will contact you shortly!

Reach out to project leader Laura Taylor at taylorl@rhodes.edu.