The contributing photographers of The VII Foundation and their colleagues at VII Community (a network of alumni who attended educational programs of the foundation) have been documenting the U.S.A. over the last several years. Combining visual journalism and words, the collaborative project U.S.A. 3.0 provides a commentary on the recent past, present and near future, capturing the challenges of immigration and drug policies, campaign drama, human rights, a changing climate, and the tension between urban and rural populations — big issues brought to life through up close personal stories. Politics in the United States – forever intertwined with religion, culture, and actual governing – is at another inflection point that will dramatically impact the country going forward for years to come.

The project is an invaluable teaching tool for students at the University of Iowa, where the book and exhibition have been developed in partnership with the Daily Iowan Documentary Workshop and School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The university’s young professionals have taken advantage of learning opportunities with internationally acclaimed journalists, gaining experience in editing, design, project management, promotion, and curation. The Daily Iowan Documentary Workshop director, VII Foundation contributing photographer Danny Wilcox Frazier, has led the educational program and has served as editor and co-director of the project with The VII Foundation co-founder Ron Haviv. Students are following the project to its final printed form, a document meant to not just inform today’s readers of the issues of the day, but also preserve the push and pull that is the imperfect but ever-evolving democratic process in the United States.

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