Projects

City life can be unforgiving and stressful. Often the landscapes of asphalt and concrete only reflect the constraints of urban life. There are few structures that can defy these notions, creating nature and freedom from stone. In the summer of 1998, an unlikely group of skateboarders, construction companies, politicians and city workers came together to carve out Baker Bowl Skate Park in Middletown, Ohio. The park was the first of its kind in the area. This piece commemorates its 10th anniversary.

The rates at autism diagnoses in the United States have risen dramatically in the last 10 years. With the help of JournalNews reporter Linda Ebbing, I followed three children from Filmore Elementary over the course of a week. Through visiting with them at school and at home, I hoped to show what educators and parents do to help childrem with autism grow and develop, and also to show what early intervention and inclusion programs do to improve the welfare of these three children. Please remember to view the multimedia slideshows to hear straight from the parents and see more pictures.

For Memorial Day of 2007, we found four people who had lost loved ones in the Iraq War. We chose to show what each of these people do to carry on the legacy of the one they lost. I chose to light the portraits in a similar fashion and compose them in a square format to link them together. I hope this shows that the war has created a community of people that are supporting through their individual tragedies, and that this war has instilled a unique sense of duty in those who lost the ones closest to them.

Utawna Leap often recites the words of Mahatma Ghandi. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Her daughter, Lianna Bryant, has cerebral palsy. By becoming active in the Butler County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, visiting college classes with Lianna, joining the Family Advisory Council at Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and helping to improve special education in Butler County, Utawna is out to make some big changes.

Each year, the stakes get higher for these dog owners. At River Downs in Cincinnati, a fundraiser is held each year in which hundreds turn out to compete for glory. No betting or prize money is awarded, but these dogs run like their life is on the line.

There are several hundred students who are classified as "special needs" enrolled in the Hamilton City School District. Inclusion programs attempt to integrate this children into the mainstream population of the schools. Some are enrolled in classes with typical children, but almost all visit typical classrooms throughout the week. The program has faced opposition by those who believe "special needs" children require so much attention from teachers that the typical children in the class suffer.

The Christian faith is instilled into the youth of America in a variety of ways. Ritual is emphasized in younger children, while entertainment is emphasized in high school. In college, the social, peer-led activities are the cornerstone of faith. The driving force behind this project is to document how the young people in America are becoming more involved with their faith and how many of the stigmas attached to Christian education have now changed. In the media religion is most often spoken about along side politics. I wanted to show the faces behind these issues, those farthest from Washington, the ones that will be affected by the decisions we make today.

In the suburbs of Cincinnati, a community of Indians, who follow the Jain faith, has formed around the closest temple for 250 miles. This essay attempts to describe Jainism through a ceremony called Puja, which took place July 17, 2005 in the new home of Sam Patel in Amelia, Ohio. Keep in mind that the spelling of Indian words is not set in stone. The word "Puja" can be spelled "Pooja" and so forth, so contradictions to my spellings can be seen all over the internet. Jains are strictly non-violent. The ancient faith has a few different sects, but non-violence to humans, their emotions, and all living things is central to their faith.

In Bowling Green, Ky., the Housing Authority has set up three learning centers. The Bryant Way Learning Center is run by paid supervisors and volunteers. The children are expected to study, read, or do homework in silence. Many of the children at the center stay late into the evening waiting for their parents. The program is free of charge. This photo essay attempts to capture the good and bad of the center.