I Am More Than…

In 2018, just before moving to Los Angeles, I created this series, I Am More Than…, in collaboration with Sacramento-based nonprofit, Waking the Village.

I Am More Than… explores the strength and complexity of Sacramento’s youth who are in the process of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and reaching for their dreams. The exhibition featured portraits of current and former residents of Waking the Village, an organization that provides housing and support for Sacramento’s youth experiencing homelessness. In my efforts to convey their power, I wanted these individuals to show they are more than all the hurdles they’ve had to face so early in life and connect with their struggle to the broader fight for social justice. I wanted to show their beauty, laughter, pain, and resilience.

During the week I spent photographing Waking the Village, I was moved daily by the amount of love and community that fills the homes in which these youth and their babies live and grow. I continue to be inspired by Waking the Village’s work, but more importantly, the youth who are utilizing their opportunities to become good parents, community leaders, and friends to each other. The work celebrates how far they’ve come and how far they are bound to go.