The black and white photographs in The Group For Mutual Improvement were taken in a vacant lot behind photographer Jordan Baumgarten's home in Philadelphia. Over a period of 10 years, Baumgarten and his neighbours spent much of their time together in this lot. His book is a document of these gatherings. The title is drawn from the Junto, also known as the Leather Apron Club—a diverse group of individuals Benjamin Franklin brought together in colonial era Philadelphia for the purpose of mutual improvement. They would gather in a tavern to debate questions of morals, politics, current events, philosophy, and local businesses. Baumgarten's group was much less formal but the discussions no less vital. 'When we gathered, we would talk for hours—often arguing the absurdity of human existence while our phone notifications alerted us to crimes in the area as they happened in real time.'