Matt Strain has worked in technology for his entire career. After graduating from Holy Cross, he moved to Hong Kong where he spent 10 years working for Apple. After that he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked for several technology companies, most recently at Adobe. So it’s safe to say that technology has played an important role in his life and career. 

But it was through his board service with the nonprofit Fotokids that he saw how technology coupled with creativity can make a different type of impact; in the lives of children living in extreme poverty in Guatemala. 

How did you get involved in Fotokids? 

I got involved with Fotokids after their founder spoke at an Adobe event. I was running digital marketing for Adobe’s creativity business, but this was the first time I saw how the company’s products could be used to literally save lives. I began supporting the organization financially and eventually had the opportunity to visit their program. Subsequently, I was invited to serve on their board of directors. Similar to many Bay Area tech companies, Adobe encourages and facilitates employee engagement in community service efforts.

How do classes like photography, graphic design and media technology help children endure poverty and violence? 

Creativity has the power to tap into something very deep. It helps to develop a growth mindset–a way of thinking that cultivates hope and resilience. Fotokids allows children to explore the creative process within a safe community which provides a sense of empowerment and confidence.  I really believe that using a camera to capture beautiful and meaningful conditions reframes–and rewires–how the students see the world.

The structure of the program helps too. Students ages 10 through 17 come to Fotokids twice a week for one of four levels of classes. The organization provides nutritious meals and financially supports attendance at local middle and high schools. This is important in Guatemala, a country with very low literacy and poor public schools.

What advice would you give to young alumni or current students about incorporating service into their lives? 

First, I’m very fortunate to have been born in a time and place where I could attend Prep and find my way to successful companies. I’m incredibly grateful for this. Volunteering is one way to help those who were born into a different set of circumstances.

As you progress through your career, many of us spend more time with spreadsheets, presentations, and similarly privileged peers than we do with the “real” world. Volunteering can be very grounding. For me, volunteering helped to keep things real. 

Volunteering is also fun! In any given year, my times volunteering and being “in the field” are among the most enjoyable, rewarding, and memorable. 

What role did attending Georgetown Prep play in your desire to serve/giving back to communities?

The Ignatian principle of “men and women for others” resonated deeply with me. At Prep, my teachers and peers helped cultivate a belief that we have a collective responsibility to create a better world. For me, this means that individuals who hold privilege and power (aka,  those who are white, economically successful, and male), have a moral imperative to act justly and ethically, regardless of personal gain.

Opening of the Fotokids 30th Anniversary Exhibit, Nancy McGirr, founder and Matt Strain.

One of the Fotokids graduates with proud parents.