Maya McFadden Photo
“iMatter” families alongside new nine-foot towers.
As darkness fell, three nine-foot tall towers lit up with the faces of 36 young people at the traffic-triangle intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Munson and Orchard Streets.
Nearly 50 people gathered to watch that happen Monday, at the unveiling of the city’s latest “iMatter” installation featuring banners with larger-than-life photos of young people from New Haven.
Previous installations have displayed the portraits on downtown and Dixwell buildings and inside City Hall.
Project Manager Bo Sandine said the point is to channel the city’s hopes and dreams of educated and confident youth.
Mayor Toni Harp celebrates her last official day in office with the Dixwell community.
The towers will be another “unique feature of New Haven,” Mayor Toni Harp said at the unveiling.
Photographer Rob Goldman announced that the next phase for the multimedia project will be to allow the world to listen to interviews with youth.
“Power to the young people,” he said.
Rob Goldman thanks his design partner, Erich Davis.
Sahara Buonome-Scott, 18, graduated from Wilbur Cross this past year. She looked up at her illuminated picture and called the experience surreal.
In her portrait, Buonome-Scott wears a T‑shirt with the face of her older brother, Jericho Scott, who was gunned down in 2015 on Exchange Street.
“I want to bring positivity around his name,” said Buonome-Scott.
Since her brother’s passing, Buonome-Scott and her family have become prominent advocates against gun violence.
“It really makes you think about the next generation’s impact,” Buonome-Scott said.
Featured youth and their families join the creators for a ribbon cutting.
Many of the featured teens and young adults agreed that their participation in the project helped to build their self-confidence. Nina Silva, co-chair of the Dixwell Community Management Team, said she hopes the display helps to make the struggles of youth more understood and normalized.
The project’s displays “Identified, described, and demystified” youth and their struggles, said Harp.
“This is what inclusion looks like,” said Silva, mother of Isaiah Bussey, 19, who was born with Down syndrome.
“It feels nice. It feels fire,” said Bussey about his second portrait to be displayed in the ongoing project. A banner of Bussey’s portrait is also displayed on the vacant former C‑Town Supermarket building.
Isiah Bussey alongside his mother, Nina Silva.
Once Bussey began participating in the project, Silva said, she saw a huge spark in his confidence. He even started a YouTube channel of his own, where he showcases his talents and everyday life.
Silva was proud that her son was chosen to represent New Haven youth. “It will hopefully create a newfound respect for those with disabilities and discourage bullying,” she said.
This phase of the project was funded by The City of New Haven’s Livable City Initiative (LCI). The initial photography and production of 12 banners was funded by the City of New Haven’s Youth Services Department.
“It helps people know that New Haven kids are smart and that New Haven is not all about violence,” said Cortez LeGrant, 15, whose portrait is also featured on the display.
The display features a portrait and personal statement from Syra Barrett, 13. Barrett chose the statement for her banner — “I am one in eight billion” — to voice that everyone is unique.
“When I look at it,” Barrett said, “I hope that people will see that I matter.”
