Mississippi’s YPCEP was modeled on a national project with the same name created by The Group for Cultural Documentation in Washington, D.C. The pilot project, conducted in 1994 and 1995 involved 50 children from Arizona, Mississippi, and Vermont.

Roland Freeman, noted photographer and quilt collector, explained:

“The idea for the Young Person’s Cultural Exchange Program (YPCEP) grew out of my belief that exposing children to people who are different from them is the best way to foster understanding in our increasingly multicultural society.

Having grown up the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s – essentially in a segregated society – I saw that the roots of racism were passed on to children before they knew what these things meant.

I decided that we had to start with children. I wanted my organization, The Group for Cultural Documentation, to create a project where young people could learn about the experiences of people who did not look like them.

With this idea churning in my gut, I started thinking of the folks I knew who were doing work with young people – especially using art.

I had connections with folks who were working with young African Americans in rural Mississippi, young Native Americans in Arizona, and young white Americans in rural Vermont so we brought them together.”


After the national pilot program was completed, the Group for Cultural Documentation published a book, Drawing Our Worlds Together. To order a copy, complete the form and send it to MCC.