The Photographs of Meaning group is designed to provide a space for young adult cancer survivors to share their cancer stories through the use of photography. Each week, you can share photographs that you have taken with your phone or camera and tell a brief story about what the photograph means to you. All levels of photography are welcomed.
Who: 10 young adult cancer patients or survivors, including those within five years of
completing treatment.
When: 8 Thursdays, September 30th – November 18th 4-5:30 pm PT / 6-7:30 pm CT / 7-8:30 pm ET via Zoom.
How does it work? The photography group will include 8-weekly (1.5 hour) group meetings (on Zoom) in which you and up to 9 other young adults, will share a couple of photographs that you have taken and a brief description of how these photographs relate to the theme for the week. Some examples of themes are: “Who Am I”; “What Matters Most”; “Coping with Bad Days”; and “Living Life to the Fullest”. After the end of the 8 weeks, you have the option to participate in a photo exhibit where group members will display their photos and raise awareness about their experiences as a young adult with cancer.
Cactus Cancer Society is partnering with two oncology social workers to lead this group. Jen Currin-McCulloch, is an assistant professor at Colorado State University and Danielle Pederson is an assistant professor at University of Saint Francis. The group is a new group and is part of a research study to see if the sharing of photographs and personal writing can improve young adults’ quality of life and sense of meaning/purpose. The research aspect of the group includes completing a brief survey (20-minutes) about how you are coping before the first group and after the last group and having an individual interview after the group project ends to learn about what the group meant to you and things that you might suggest for improving the group for young adults in the future. For being a part of the group, you will receive a $20 Amazon egift card and prints of two of your favorite photographs that you shared during the group.
Questions? You can email Jen at jen.currin-mcculloch@colostate.edu and let her know that you are interested in participating in the photography group.
