La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez Community Garden, 2022-23.
La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez Community Garden of Alphabet City is more than a community garden; the garden is the community. People and nature live symbiotically. The garden offers the perfect place to relax, but once you get the opportunity to meet the community, you find they inspire hope: neighbors connect, educational conversations are held about climate change, childhood behaviors, and the feeling of security from feeding loved ones from one’s manual labor. The garden is a sanctuary, and all those who volunteer understand, especially since most of the members have remained since its establishment.
Forest Gate Youth Center, London, England, 2024
I had the opportunity to study at the London College of Communication for a semester abroad in the course of Photojournalism and Documentary Photography. For six months, I had researched and worked with Byron Isaie, a member and youth worker of Forest Gate Youth Center. I strived to photograph Bryon’s authentic self, capturing his pure essence of happiness, strength, and humor. Byron taught me the true beauty of Forest Gate: taking memory walks of his childhood, jam sessions in the youth center’s recording studio, and a boxing class. Byron embodies the human condition of overcoming struggles and forging to success. Undeniably, one of the happiest people I have ever met, Byron is the perfect example of overcoming adversity.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
