Boston Uncornered Photo Project Exhibit in Boston Seaport Celebrates Black Leadership 

October 17-30, 2022

BOSTON – Black Boston leaders from the worlds of politics, sports, business, the military, and philanthropy will be the focus of a unique photo exhibit at Seaport Common at 85 Northern Ave in Boston Seaport October 17-30. The Uncornered Photo Project exhibit will include a selection of 20 dramatic 5’x8’ black and white photographs taken by renowned photographer John Huet, together with stories about a time when each person photographed felt cornered by a negative experience such as racism, a traumatic event, or people not believing in them – and how they found the strength, resilience, and support to become “Uncornered.”

New portraits in the exhibit include U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, Boston Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison, one of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen Ret. Lt. Col. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse II, Celtics photographer/videographer Bred Hampton, as well as Boston Uncornered interns and students who will be sharing their stories with the public for the first time.  Returning portraits include New England Patriots Captain Devin McCourty, MA Attorney General candidate Andrea Campbell, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Suffolk Construction VP, Diversity and Inclusion & Community Linda Dorcena Forry, Boston Children’s Museum VP External Relations & Corporate Development Charlayne Murrell-Smith, Boston Uncornered co-founder Michelle Caldeira and other Boston Uncornered leaders and students. 

The Boston Uncornered Photo Project exhibit was created pro bono by PJA Advertising + Marketing in partnership with Boston Uncornered, and Boston Seaport by WS Development.  The Uncornered Photo Project debuted for one month on Boston Common in August 2019 and has since had installations at Gillette Stadium, Patriot Place and Sea Green Park. 

“We are so humbled to host the Boston Uncornered Photo Project Exhibit again this year in the Seaport and deeply admire their commitment to forging a diverse and promising future for the city we love,” says Yanni Tsipis, Senior Vice President, WS Development.

Boston Uncornered sets high expectations for gang members who are Core Influencers and have the charisma and intelligence to lead others and are willing to change their lives. Uncornered supports students with a weekly $400 stipend and empowers them to earn an education while providing mental health counseling, and educational guidance. The students work with trusted peer mentors who understand their struggle. This approach is working to end gang violence and generational urban poverty in Boston and beyond. Boston Uncornered has proven that when Core Influencers are supported, educated, and invested in, homicides decline. A 2020 Bain Consulting assessment found three times lower crime incidents in the areas with the highest concentration of gang members working with Uncornered. While other cities across the nation saw an increase in gun violence in 2021, Boston saw a reduction. Nine in ten Boston Uncornered students don’t return to violent activity. Each Boston Uncornered student saves the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and taxpayers at least $70,000 per year. This translates into a total savings of $5.5 million to the city of Boston.

Visitors can see photos and stories from the exhibit on the Boston Uncornered website which will include thumbnails of each portrait, audio recordings of many subjects’ stories, as well as a brief video with more information about the exhibit and College Bound Dorchester’s impact. Boston Seaport’s website will also host a virtual tour of the exhibit at bostonseaport.xyz/learn.