Spotlight- Featured Non-Profits

Aside from wearing the hats of running a photography business I also work a couple hours a day with a non-profit teaching photography after-school at different high schools in the valley. It's my way of staying creative to my craft and giving back to the youth. Last month I competed in a nationwide contest that asked photographers what sort of personal project they would fund with $50,000. My response listed goals to unite different non-profits around the world by documenting their stories. I didn't win. In fact, I came out short by 800 or so votes. Instead of shrugging my shoulders and moving on in life I hosted a thank you party to everyone who supported me in the contest to inform them of my current pursuits. Somehow in my lifetime I will do my best to document stories of others helping others in need. 

Below are some detail shots from my party last night. There was good coffee and yummy desserts. Plus, an intimate group of friends who came out to celebrate with me. I featured seven different organizations including Tiny Toones, REVO LA, To Write Love On Her arms, Invisible Children, Love 146, The Sold Project, and Toms Shoes. At the end of this entry will be a short description about each one. Visit their sites if you get a chance. 

Cheers to goodness!

Tiny Toones (www.tinytoonescambodia.com)

They’re the first hip-hop learning center in Phnom Phen, Cambodia that offers free classes to the youth such as break dancing, HIV and drug prevention, English and Khmer, djing, and mentorship. Their goal is to inspire them to be leaders in their community. Currently, they’re on their first USA tour and will be fundraising in LA on Sunday, May 3^rd. Come join the movement! I will be traveling to Cambodia this year to help their organization for a month. My goals include doing photojournalistic work of the children involved there and doing a free photography workshop for their community.

REVO LA (www.revola.org)

            REVO is a movement based on the concepts of love, grace and equality, and social justice. They place special emphasis on art and creativity. Over the past few years since their first show in Hilo, HI they have grown with REVO branches all over the US, including LA. Our LA branch’s goal is to put on an art show this year that heightens awareness of West Papua, Indonesia’s broken school system.   I was invited to be one of their writers and contribute articles to their blog and will be researching and informing readers of the current state of education in West Papua. 

To Write Love On Her Arms (www.twloha.com)

            An organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. They exist encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery. They believe rescue is possible, and are committed to communicating hope to other who knows the daily struggle of living in a broken world.

Invisible Children (www.invisiblechildren.com)

            A documentary that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers. Their work hopes to educate and inspire individuals to use their unique voice for change through the media. In war-affected regions they focus on long-term development, working directly with individuals and institutions that are eager to realize their full potential. Just yesterday (April 25^th) they initiated a worldwide event called The Rescue where they encouraged activists to camp out in their city until a mogul, a person with great influence, rescues them by visiting them and voicing their support.

 

Love 146 (www.love146.org)

            Love protects, defends, restores, empowers. This organization offers practical and effective solutions through prevention and aftercare. Such examples are the safe homes and aftercare workers they provide around the world. Their mission is to abolish sex slavery.

 

 The Sold Project (www.thesoldproject.com)

            Also, a film that grew to be a movement dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals to stop child prostitution before it begins. They seek to support partner organization in Thailand that work in the areas of rescue and rehabilitation for children at-risk.

 

Toms Shoes (www.tomsshoes.com)

            For every pair of shoes you purchase from TOMS, they will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. The founder, Blake Mycoskie, wanted to help protect the children’s feet in Argentina when he first started, but now wants to provide shoes around the world.