Dear World creator, Robert X. Fogarty, captured Oakland University students’ voices through photos.

Fogarty united with Oakland to bring their messages to the community.

Dear World first began in Fogarty’s hometown of New Orleans. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina was looming over the city when Fogarty first began his journey.

He reached out to the community and asked them to write love notes. From devastation bloomed inspiration through Dear World.

“I do projects with people who are going through tough times, but I hope Dear World is another way for them to talk about the situation in a different way,” Fogarty said.

The photos in Dear World speak to the viewers — literally. Community members write messages of hope, struggle and honesty on their bodies. A photographer then captures each person and their message in a photo.

“I heard about him and I really wanted to bring this event to Oakland. It’s an event that can bring everyone together,” Bria Ellis, junior, said. “There’s nothing more important than letting others know their voice will be heard.”

Ellis organized the Dear World event at Oakland.

Fogarty has photographed in Joplin, Mo., Breezy Point, N.Y. after Hurricane Sandy, Jordan where he photographed Syrian refugees and now at Oakland.

The event had photo shoots in the Fireside Lounge from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. And at 7 p.m. the same day, Fogarty showed the photos he’d taken and selected a few messages that spoke to him in the banquet rooms of the Oakland Center.  

“I love the concept of a picture speaks a thousand words and yet, these pictures speak so much more,” Christina Ramsey, senior, said.

Ramsey wrote several different messages on her body throughout the photo shoot. Some of the messages she wrote were “no pressure no diamonds,” “never settle” and “love see it, accept it give it.”

All of the pictures will appear on Facebook and students will be able to make them their profile picture.

“It’s different to write a message to the world on yourself, take a picture of it and see it,” Ellis said. “I’ve been telling people it’s the ultimate profile picture.”

Some of the messages students shared were “I am not a statistic,” “let go of your past” and “create a better world.”

“It is incredible stuff he’s capturing and I think people on a college campus have a lot to say,” Ramsey said. “He’s capturing a lot of Oakland today which is awesome.”

Ellis hopes that all students that participated will make the Dear World photo their profile picture.

To check out photos from the evening, visit the Dear World Facebook page.