In addition to creating the video, Roberto documented the participants in their neighborhoods through photography. This project was one of 56 collaborations between artists and communities throughout the nation. IBA was established in 1968, by the predominantly Puerto Rican residents of Parcel 19, a community in the South End of Boston whose existence was threatened by urban renewal. The result was the creation of Villa Victoria, a neighborhood of 884 units of low and moderate-income housing for over 3000 residents. This project will focus on young people living within the Villa Victoria community.
Languages spoken include Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
There are 477 youth between the ages of 17 and 22, as well as, more than 1500 between the ages of 6 and 22 living in the Villa Victoria community. This community is faced with issues such as teen pregnancy, alienation from formal educational institutions, the breakdown of supportive family structures and the disillusion associated with poverty. Additionally, there is a high rate of academic failure, drug use and gang activity. The Mirror Project has worked with Somerville youth since 1992 and within the Mystic community since 1994. Over 160 youth have participated in the project.