PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG

Saturday, November 22, 2025, IlluminateHER: A Photo Narrative Gallery, 78^th Street Studios, 1300 W. 78^th Street: Genesis Gaines is one of six girls from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Broadway Club who displayed their photography, collage, and mixed media art at the IlluminateHER exhibit.

PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG

Saturday, November 22, 2025, IlluminateHER: A Photo Narrative Gallery, 78^th Street Studios, 1300 W. 78^th Street: Holly Fulger, Lakewood actress, writer and founder of  the nonprofit organization True Beauty Discovery joined with girls from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Broadway Club in twice weekly sessions to help the girls explore their identities through photography and writing captions to describe what the photos mean to them.

   (Plain Press January 2026) Six girls from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Broadway Club exhibited their artwork consisting of photography, collage and mixed-media art at a November 22^nd show titled IlluminateHER: A Photo Narrative Gallery at 78^th Street Studios. Assistant Club Director Bee Puthoff joined the young artists and participated in the project.

   At the exhibit at 78^th Street Studios,1300 W. 78^th Street, the seven artists shared with the public stories and images from a seven-week photo narrative project in a partnership between the Boys and Girls Clubs and nonprofit True Beauty Discovery. The Boys and Girls Club members participating in the project along with Broadway Assistant Club Director Bee Purhoff were: Peighton Briggs, Amani Walker, Storm Potts, Aaliyah Hall, Genesis Gaines, and Ma’khai Al-Amin.

   During the seven-week project, True Beauty Discovery’s founder, Lakewood actress and writer Holly Fulger, led twice weekly sessions with the girls. The sessions were designed to help the girls explore their identities through photos and captions, express their voices, and understand their “legendary” qualities. Through weekly themes – The Image of Me, Family, The Mask I Wear, Joy and My Power, and My Voice – the girls shared their stories and self-discovery through photography, collage and mixed-media art. Each piece they created reflects their courage, creativity and unique “legend” that guides them.

   The goal of True Beauty Discovery is to rewrite the rules about what it means to be beautiful, powerful and capable. Its movement empowers girls ages 11-19 to lead with authenticity and strength, guiding them from “how do I look?” to “who am I becoming?” This is done through storytelling, mentorship, and the Seven Legends Identity Framework. True Beauty Discovery thrives to create brave spaces where girls can embrace their identities, amplify their voices and step into leadership.

   At the exhibit at 78^th Street Studios each girl had an opportunity to present her curated photos and an artist statement. “This project has been inspiring. It is designed to empower the girls to see themselves – and the world – through a new lens,” said Fulger.

   Guests at the show had an opportunity to support the artists and True Beauty Discovery’s mission by purchasing raffle tickets or donating to receive greeting cards featuring the girls’ original artwork.

   Sponsors of IlluminateHER include Studiothink, Creative Duality, Ronald Bolender, Impressia Bank and 78^th Street Studios.

   The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (BGCNEO) provide safe, fun places for youth ages 6-18 to go after school, with an emphasis on academic success, healthy lifestyles, character and leadership development and life and workforce readiness. There is no charge to join a Club. BGCNEO operates 30 Clubs in six counties.