“Stories from Samaritan Community”:
A Beautiful Collaboration Between
MICA and Samaritan Community

(January 2016):
A picture is worth a thousand words. We all know the saying, and it couldn’t be truer when talking about our collaboration with students from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), entitled “Stories from Samaritan Community".

After spending time with us over this past fall semester, students from Professor Dan Meyers’ Photo Imaging class truly became a part of our community – talking and laughing with Samaritan members, learning about their challenges and hopes for the future, and about the work we do on a daily basis. 

“It was such fun having them here. It was a really enjoyable experience for our members and the results are just beautiful,” says Sharon Krieger, Program Director at Samaritan Community. “The photographs are now proudly displayed throughout our space. But, the students also created wonderful information cards about our services. We have already used them many times to educate people – from new clients to potential funders – about who we are. This is art that helps move our mission.”

And while Samaritan greatly benefitted from the relationship, the students were also able to get out of the classroom and dive right into the work they hope to do after graduation. 

"What was exciting for me as the teacher was seeing how the Samaritan Community project offered the students such a unique mix of working creatively, meeting deadlines, having compassion and gaining trust,” says Professor Meyers. 

Samaritan hopes to continue these types of partnerships with local organizations as well as to create new ones, because our community here at Samaritan Community starts within our walls, but it quickly expands to include the neighbors, businesses, and institutions who are a part of our community-at-large.  

“Partnering with outside organizations provides opportunities for our students to develop real-world skills and expand beyond the MICA bubble,” says Stephen Towns, Program Coordinator of MICA’s Office of Community Engagement, the department that co-sponsored the collaboration. “They are able to experience how their talent and abilities can benefit the greater community."

Thank you, MICA. All of us at Samaritan Community are thrilled with what your creative students were able to capture and we look forward to future endeavors together.