“I wasn’t so much into photography at first,” said Emily Velarde (right), a student participating in a new class sponsored by Arts for Humanity! and the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. “But once I tried it, I liked it and want to do it more. I’m motivated.” The cell phone photography class, taught by photographer David Litschel, is aimed at empowering low-income and at-risk youth through the art of photography. With a slideshow lesson and hands-on learning, Litschel gives the kids a fun, new way of seeing their environment through basic photographic principles of composition and light. After a “photographic scavenger hunt” around Santa Barbara, Litschel brings the kids back into the classroom for a positive and inspiring critique. See artsforhumanity.com.