Event Toolkit

Brotherhood Photo Voice: Pictures With Purpose

Theme & Purpose

The Brotherhood Photo Voice: Pictures With Purpose gives young men the chance to explore identity and truth through both mask making and photography. The event begins with the #MillionMaskMovement, where participants reflect on their outside self (the strengths and qualities they show to the world) and their inside self (the doubts, emotions, or struggles they usually don’t let others see).

Those reflections then guide the photography activity: young men use cameras or phones to capture images that represent each side of their mask. The outside self might appear in photos of smiles, sports, or style, while the inside self might show up in shadows, empty spaces, or symbolic objects. By turning mask truths into pictures, participants gain a deeper way to express what words often can’t.

This experience makes the mask tangible, helps young men share their realities with others, and builds empathy and brotherhood through the final gallery walk.

Benefits for Young Men

Creative Expression – Use photography to tell stories beyond words.
Authentic Reflection – Translate mask truths into visual form.
Community Connection – Build empathy by sharing images in a group setting.

Materials

Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital millionmask.org/drawboard
Box or envelope for mask shuffle
Disposable cameras or smartphones (1 per participant or small group)
Printer (if using digital photos) or projector/slideshow setup
Poster boards, tape, or string with clips for gallery display
Index cards for captions/reflections

Group Size

10–25 participants, plus adults/mentors as audience

Time Needed

90–120 minutes

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Young Men’s Bazaar: Passions Into Action

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Welcome to Brotherhood Photo Voice: Pictures With Purpose. Today we’ll use masks and photography to capture the difference between what we show the world and what we usually don’t let others see. Images can speak truths that words sometimes can’t, and together we’ll build a gallery of those truths.”

2. Create a Mask (10 minutes)

Hand out mask cards.
Invite participants to write/draw:
- Front (outside): the positive qualities they usually show the world (e.g., hardworking, funny, confident, athletic).
- Back (inside): the “real stuff” they usually don’t let others see (e.g., fear of failure, stress, sadness, family pressure).
Collect masks
Reflection: “These masks remind us that what we see isn’t always the full story. Photography can help us look deeper.”

3. Photo Walk & Capture (30–40 minutes)

Give participants time to capture 3–5 photos each:

Outside Self: images that represent the qualities they project.
Inside Self: images that reflect pressures, emotions, or truths they carry quietly.

Encourage symbolic photos (objects, places, shadows, textures) rather than just literal faces.

4. Print/Prepare Photos (10–15 minutes)

If using phones, quickly print selected photos or prepare a digital slideshow.
Each participant chooses 1 “outside” photo and 1 “inside” photo to share.

5. Gallery Walk & Sharing (25–30 minutes)

Display photos on walls, poster boards, or digitally projected.
Participants write short captions or mask-inspired reflections for each photo.
Adults and peers circulate, quietly viewing and leaving affirmation notes.
Optional: invite a few participants to speak about their photos.

6. Group Reflection (10–15 minutes)

Discussion prompts:

“What did you notice in your own photos?”
“How did it feel to capture the ‘inside’ with images instead of words?”
“What surprised you about your brothers’ photos?”
“How do photos reveal what masks usually cover

7. Closing & Positive Action (5–10 minutes)

Each participant writes down:

One insight they gained about themselves.
One way they will share their “inside self” more honestly in daily life.

Host Script:
“Our photos showed that behind every mask there are deeper stories. When we take off the mask and allow others to see, we build trust, courage, and brotherhood.”

8. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)