The story…
The idea for Project 405 grew from years of admiring my Grandfather, Benedict J. Fernandez’s timeless and iconic photojournalism and arts education work. Not only did my Grandfather capture much of the Protest Movement, the United States during the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s, and ultimately, the last year of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s life – he also inspired generations of young people interested in capturing their worlds through the lens of a camera. As one of New York City’s leading visual art educators and pictorial documentarians, my Grandfather, a highly dyslexic, uneducated, Puerto-Rican Italian from Spanish Harlem transformed the ways in which photography was appreciated, practiced, and taught across the United States. A legacy I aim to emulate and guide me each and every day – This is where Project 405 was born.
With your support, Project 405 aims to become a leading “out of school time” arts, innovation, and education community space in the Merrimack Valley! With your support, Project 405 aims to become a resource for youth where curiosity and ideas are brought to life, nurtured, and cultivated. Bridging the gap between young people and opportunities, Project 405 aims to offer both work-study and internship options for youth to explore their interests in the arts, vocation, and the intersection of both.
