A Camera.
A Crisis.
A Legacy.
Who We Are
Photo Credit: Giani Jones
New Orleans native Danette M. Vincent is a photographer and visual storyteller whose work centers on resilience, culture, and community. Long before founding Youth Stop Inc., she discovered the power of photography when her father placed a camera in her hands during a difficult time, giving her a way to process what she was feeling and see the world through a new perspective.
That early experience shaped how she understood the role creativity can play in healing. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when thousands of young people were struggling to make sense of their new reality, Danette recognized that the same tool that once helped her could help them too.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina uprooted thousands of families across the Gulf Coast, scattering many young people far from their homes as the city struggled to rebuild. Danette M. Vincent saw something others had not yet addressed: the emotional toll on youth trying to make sense of their upheaval.
Determined to give young people a way to process their experiences, Danette purchased 150 disposable cameras and placed them in the hands of 20 displaced youth living across 5 states. She encouraged them to document their lives -capturing moments of uncertainty, family, and hope.
What began as an act of trust and creativity during a time of crisis became the catalyst for something much larger, the beginning of Youth Stop Inc.
Born in the Wake of Katrina
OUr Origins
Over the years, that initial act of storytelling evolved into an ongoing mission. Youth Stop expanded its work through photography workshops, community partnerships, and public exhibitions that give young people space to explore their voices and share their perspectives.
In 2025, the project came full circle with Beyond the Storm — A Look Back, a powerful photo exhibit honoring the resilience of the original Katrina Camera Kids, reuniting participants to reflect on the stories they first captured as children. Two decades later, the message remains the same: photography is a powerful pathway for healing, expression, and opportunity.
Twenty Years of Growth
Youth Stop Inc. empowers young people to turn creativity into opportunity through photography and media arts training -helping them tell their stories, build confidence, and prepare for their futures.
OUR MISSION
What began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina continues today as a commitment to giving youth the tools to tell their stories, develop creative skills, and see the power in their own perspective.
Twenty years later, Danette's mission continues to grow through the support of a community that believes in creating the next generation of artists.
Built on Community
Our Partners
Youth Stop's work is made possible through partnerships with organizations committed to supporting young people and their creative potential.
THANK YOU to OUR COMMUNITY
Versatile Ladies of Style (Cultural Bearer)
Professor Ron Bechet-Xavier University
Tamborine and Fan (Cultural Bearer)
Eric Waters (NOLA Photographer)
Community Bookstore Center (Vera Warren-Williams)
Rita Henry (AR Photographer)
Black Men of Labor (Cultural Bearer)
Our Collaborators
Joan Murphy
Leatha D. Vincent
Gail D. Walker
Keith Roberts
Arnell Dykes
Firely Cepeda- Vincent
Our Volunteers
“What began twenty years ago as a way to help children heal after Katrina has grown into something even bigger. I watched them use photography to find their voices, and now we’re building clear career pathways so the next generation can turn those voices into opportunity. The storm started the story, but the future is about purpose, skills, and possibility.”