The Mission

To bring awareness and inspire support for individuals and organizations that address social issues around the world.

The Women Empowered Project grew out of my astonishment at the level of gender discrimination I saw that still exists in much of the developing world. The Women Empowered Exhibit, Book, and Multimedia Pieces present heroic examples of women, whose bravery and determination allowed them to move from victim to leader, and speak to the universal themes of courage, empowerment and human rights.

The Tibetan Portrait exhibit and book were created to bring attention to the oppression of a deeply spiritual culture by a more powerful nation state. I saw the Tibetan conflict as another example in a repeating pattern of cultural genocide against indigenous people--a pattern that unfortunately continues to this day.

The Enduring Spirit exhibit and book were created in conjunction with Amnesty International’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR is a revolutionary document governing human rights that cut across all geographic, political and religious lines. Arguably the most important document created by mankind, it was adopted by all the nations of the world. It was a great honor to take part in Amnesty’s recommitment effort to this epic document.

The book, The Gift was created for Interplast a non-profit organization that sends medical teams to perform cleft palate surgeries on children in remote communities around the world. Interplast volunteers make every effort to share medical ideas and work with the healers in the indigenous communities served. Their ‘incubator’ program trains local doctors to perform the surgeries so the work can continue in Interplast’s absence.

BRIDGES is an online classroom program connecting children from indigenous and tribal cultures with their urban contemporaries for the purpose of honoring and exploring cultural diversity. Using storytelling through photography and audio arts, the students learn from and with each other and from their elders. With BRIDGES unique approach, students are mentored in becoming online content providers by portraying themselves and their way of life from their own point of view.

Blue Earth Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides support for individuals producing photographic projects that educate the public about endangered environments and threatened cultures.