a bit of the process

I love portraits almost as much as I love people. When light shapes a face just right, I usually stop listening for a moment and work to make a portrait. Snap. Even better when the chat is going well, and a story is revealed. Folks get a chance to share about themselves. Share where they came from, who they are, who they were, and how they make some mark on their community. Some work for Expanded Learning, some for the State of California, and some are neighbors. Each person I’ve been fortunate enough to work with has a compelling story, and it’s my job to pull it out of them. Some would talk for a day if we had the time, and for others, that’s not their jam. Either way, I’m listening. Throughout the Stories from the Field project one thing has been consistent - people don’t mind talking about themselves and sharing their story. Again, a few folks don’t like to share, but when I go back to why I am pushing this project forward (advocacy, momentum building, shifting mindsets about who works in Expanded Learning)… the task becomes bigger, and the words, more often, flow.