community

A few weekends ago I photographed an event put on by Christine from up-standmovement. It was really wonderful bringing community together to raise awareness for kids health and street safety.

(and I tell my children every time a child is hit by a vehicle - they need to know why I’m in constant fear when they’re near the street)

So, I was more than glad to help a great cause in the way I was able to. 

I’ve known Christine since our first borns were babies, and they’re almost 10! Christine started “up-stand” to promote and advocate for the safety of pregnant woman who ride public transportation, but now has branched to advocacy and awareness for families to make life more accessible.

Thinking about community, and why I make the long trek to the edge of Tribeca twice a week for my kids; It’s for community.

Here’s the story…

When my son was 3, we couldn’t afford daycare, but I still wanted him to experience the arts (my oldest went to a heavily art driven school), so scavenging around Astoria, no afternoon dance class was offered, only this one dance studio in Tribeca. Naturally, he was timid at his first class, but after awhile he loved it!

Flash forward until AFTER the lockdown, and a year and a half later when things where up and running, I signed him up for another Hip Hop class. He was a bit unsure on the trip there (you know, after everything and masks required), but when the elevator doors opened, he raced in and yelped, “I know this place!” And ran into the arms of a senior dancer who joyously picked him up and threw him in the air. I’ve never seen my son so fearless and happy - I had tears.

Later the receptionists proudly said, “your son is with the top dancers in the studio.”

He found a place, a community, that celebrated his energy, and his peers rejoiced as well - even the seasoned ones.

Now, my oldest and younger daughter also found their love in that studio, and it’s fun to watch; to have that feeling of togetherness, a community, is incredible.

We do what we can for our kids, and even though mistakes will be made as parents (there’s no way around it), hopefully our kids will remember we tried our best to honor them.

Thanks Christine for organizing this event for our community - the feeling of community keeps growing.

If you are curious about the video platform I use, it’s animoto. It’s very user friendly and it’s been really fun to showcase my work in a more engaging way.