April 14, 2003

Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen, the team behind some of the most successful photography events ever produced, have reunited to create America 24/7. During the week of May 12 - 18, 2003, America 24/7, the largest collaborative photo project in U.S. history, will dispatch 1,000 of the world's top photojournalists across the US equipped with digital cameras to capture after school programs.

This is a unique opportunity to highlight after school programs and increase the country's awareness of the after school community at a time when the funding is threatened to be slashed in the proposed fiscal year 2004 budget. All after school communities are invited to participate in the America 24/7 Project.

This is a completely digital project; so all photos must be taken with digital cameras during the designated week. The results will be published in 53 illustrated books, web presentations, exhibitions and a TV documentary. There is two ways for the after'school communities to participate in America 24/7:

Students (13 years or older) are encouraged sign up and to submit photos for possible publication at the website http://www.america24-7.com/participate/students.shtml

Mentors and teachers are encouraged to photograph their programs submit those photographs possible publication and sign up as amateurs at http://www.america24-7.com/participate/amateurs.shtml

To learn more about the overall project, visit the website america24-7.com