By Rev. Gregory Smith

Now in its third year, The Romus Broadway photography camp, which honors the late photographer Romus Broadway, offers photography instruction, lessons in local history, and digital cameras to the selected student participants.

Romus Broadway, who passed away in 2020, captured daily life in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood through thousands of images he took and collected from the late 1950s through the early 2000s.

This past year’s campers ranged in age 11 to 15 and enjoyed two weeks of full-day instruction from June 27-July 3. Each day focused on a different aspect of photography fundamentals and the local history. The students visited sites across the Princeton University campus and, in keeping with the original mission, they received instruction on the use of the digital camera used throughout the session, which they got to keep at the end of the program.

This year’s camp included four boys and two girls who successfully completed the program.

Campers who completed the 2025 Photo Camp.

For the first time this year, the students had a full day of camp which according to Asha Weal ( camp director) provided for a more unique experience. This was also the first year that the program engaged in full partnership with the Princeton Arts Council, which provided space within the community as well as administrative and artistic support.

According to Weal, “The students were very eager to learn as always, but this class was exceptionally driven thinking about college and degrees in the Arts…,she added “The students also were keeping up with me on socials and asking questions while using their cameras… They answered questions and asked even more when they had them. The interest and passion to make this a career was evident.”

In addition to local historian Shirley Satterfield who annually provides a riveting overview of the formation of the Witherspoon Jackson Community, the students had an opportunity to meet prominent New York based photographer Ricky Shoebio & Jade Rodriguez. Shoebio is the Creative Director, Photographer, and Founder of the agency Know Your Dope(KYD), He is further noted for his influential visual storytelling. Rodriguez is a multifaceted artist.

The Romus Broadway Photography Camp continues to be endorsed by the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, whose mission is to research, preserve, understand, appreciate, and celebrate the rich and proud history of African Americans in Princeton, in partnership with the Arts Council of Princeton.

For information about sponsoring a child for 2026, you may contact Rev. Gregory S. Smith, co founder of the camp, at 609-920-3467, or email Emma Stephens, ACP’s Development Associate at