Prep Proud Honors Danette M. Vincent

Danette M. Vincent, Class of 1978 , is a New Orleans–born photographer and visual storyteller whose work centers on resilience, culture, and community.

As the founder and director of Youth Stop Inc., she created a safe haven for youth displaced by Hurricane Katrina through photography. In 2005, she placed cameras in the hands of 20 young people across five states, empowering them to capture their own realities during a time of upheaval.

Two decades later, Danette has reunited those original participants in Beyond the Storm – A Look Back, a landmark 20th-anniversary project and exhibition currently on view at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in New Orleans. The exhibit showcases new portraits, stories, and cultural traditions that reflect the participants’ lives and resilience 20 years after the storm.

In addition to this exhibition, her work is featured in the 2024 hardback release of Seeing Black: Black Photography in New Orleans 1840 and Beyond, a major volume that documents the history and impact of Black photographers in New Orleans.

Her artistic contributions continue to celebrate New Orleans culture while inspiring future generations through education, creativity, and storytelling.