–Ambondrona, Madagascar–
The children’s laughter was muted by the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. As they made their way to the shore, Sister Odette Rahamtamirina looked on from the comfort of the courtyard where the other children in their casted legs slid across the ground on their bottoms.
Villa Stella Maria is an orphanage on the Island of Nosy-Be, located off the Northwest tip of Madagascar. It has housed over two hundred disabled children since its creation in 1998 by Sister Claire Andre Painsonneau. Villa Stella Maria is no larger than your average American middle class home, yet more than 20 disabled children are living at the villa at any time.
The children are cared for and looked after by volunteers and resident nuns. The villa is equipped with a kitchen, bunked style sleeping quarters for the children, separate sleeping quarters for the nuns and a courtyard that opens up to the ocean. The house has vibrant colored walls adorned with iron crucifixes and various religious symbols. The windows are ornate with beautiful floral curtains that dance with the slightest breeze. The courtyard has a swing, wheelchairs and toys scattered throughout the sand and a single swing attached to a large tree. It looks like paradise, and in many ways it is an oasis for the children.
The villa is a sanctuary for the disabledchildren that suffer from a bone deficiency named Osteomalacia, more commonly known as rickets. Rickets is a weakening within the bones due to malnutrition. It is quite common for rickets to be prevalent in poverty stricken countries, and Madagascar is a very poor country.
The cases of rickets that you see at the Villa Stella Maria are quite severe, some so severe that simple additions of vitamin D into the children's diet will have no impact. In these cases, the only way to fix the warped bones is surgery, and even in some cases the surgery will not help. Once it’s determined if the child is fit for an operation, they are sent to mainland Madagascar to undergo the corrective surgery. In cases where both legs need surgery, one is operated on, cast, rehabilitated and then the other leg will go through the same process.
Villa Stella Maria not only cares for the children before the operation, they accept them back in after their surgeries to heal them further. The children get nutritious meals, schooling, rehabilitation and once stable, returned to their families. Stella Maria strives not only to rehabilitate the children physically, but also to help them build confidence that will remain with them for their lives.
Watching the children scurry across the floor out of their bunks or try to stand up and walk on their casts across the courtyard is quite humbling. Every single one of them is tough and full of courage. When they fall, they crawl and get back up. The Villa Stella Maria doesn’t guarantee a padded life for the children after surgery, what they do guarantee is to show the children as much care and love for as long as they can, and to give them the tools to conquer further adversity they will face throughout their lives.
-Picher, Okla.-
Tucked in the Northeast corner of the Kansas and Oklahoma border lies a town named Picher. If you were to drive through Picher today, you would be greeted by a ghost town, riddled with run-down buildings, empty plots of land and large chat piles, which contain traces of lead.
Picher was not always destitute and abandoned. Picher was once a boomtown, mining some of the highest amounts of lead and zinc in the world. In 1967, the mining stopped, the water ran red with contaminants and by 2006 the government paid people to leave, concluding that Picher was such a toxic mess, it could not be salvaged.
Gary Linderman did not buy into this belief. Gary is famously known as "Lights Out Linderman" and "the last man standing" for his unwavering dedication to the town, its people and his belief that Picher is on the verge of a resurgence. Not only did he care for the city of Picher, he cared for the people of Picher and from surrounding areas as well. People would come to the Ole Miners Pharmacy from as far as 20 miles away because they trusted Gary and he connected with them on a human level. Gary would treat those who walked into his doors as family, striking up a conversation with his open-hearted exuberance, He truly cared for the people.
Gary died June 6 due to a sudden illness, according to the Thomas Funeral Home. For the people and town of Picher, it's a heartbreaking loss. Gary's death creates a vacuum that can never be filled. Numerous stories of Gary giving away drugs to those who couldn't afford them, or accepting an IOU as payment is a true testament to the man he was, For Gary, it was never about money; rather, it was the wellbeing of others that he cared for. Though "Lights Out Linderman" is gone, his kindness and willingness to lend a hand with an open heart solidifies his legacy and ensures that his memory will stay lit.
-Picher, Okla. June 4, 2015- Gary Linderman grabs a customer's prescriptions as he talks with his employees inside the Ole Miners Pharmacy. Gary would often give away samples or take an IOU as payment from those who could not afford their prescriptions.
-Picher, Okla. June 4, 2015- A photograph of Gary Linderman standing outside of his pharmacy in its infancy.
-Picher, Okla. June 4, 2015- Gary Linderman holds a variety of medications and vitamins before sorting them at the Ole Miners Pharmacy.
-Colorado-
On September 12, 2013 Colorado received a record-breaking amount of rain. The sheer volume of rain, in such a short amount of time caused dangerous flooding throughout many areas of the state, with Longmont, Jamestown and Fourmile Canyon suffering some of the worst damage.
Colorado experienced record amounts of rainfall during the storm, anywhere from four to six inches in less than 12 hours. The sheer volume of water caused creeks and rivers to rise and eventually overflow. During the floods, more than 10,000 people were evacuated and property damages reached close to $2 billion. Families experienced loss not only of their belongings, but of loved ones as well. The events that took place are moment solidified in Colorado history, and many of those affected are still recovering from the historical flood.
-Jamestown, Colo. October 29, 2013- Throughout Jamestown, peoples belongings can be seen buried in the sand.
-Jamestown, Colo. October 29, 2013- Burt Loupee takes a break from shoveling rocks and sand that had washed downstream into his home.
-Jamestown, Colo. October 29, 2013- The only traffic in Jamestown after the flooding is from the contruction vehicles working to rebuild the community.
-Jamestown, Colo. October 29, 2013- Burt Loupee places his shovel against his home that was severly damaged by the flooding.
-Longmont, Colo. December 29, 2013- A chair at the end of a driveway in a trailer park that has been abandonded from the flooding.
-Longmont, Colo. December 29, 2013- Random debris, along with mud and mold coats the floors of many homes and trailers.
-Longmont, Colo. December 29, 2013- Many household objects in the trailers are in place as they were left months earlier when the flooding began.
-Longmont, Colo. December 29, 2013- A stuffed teddy bear lies face down on a bed next to a pornographic magazine in an abandoned trailer.
-Fourmile Canyon, Colo. October 12, 2013- A home and local shop sits disconnected from the town after the flood waters had washed away the main road.
-Fourmile Canyon, Colo. October 12, 2013- Members of the community work together to dig out their homes by hauling sand and debris away in a wheelbarrow.
-Fourmile Canyon, Colo. October 12, 2013- Two men stand near a house that has broken in two from the flood waters.
-Fourmile Canyon, Colo. October 12, 2013- Much of the area looks like a conflict zone. Houses are wiped off of their foundations and cars have been reduced to warped metal skeletons filled with sand and rock.
-Sausalito, Calif. March 20, 2015- Chris Godfrey, one of many volunteers for the Matthew Turner Educational Tall Ship project, stands in front of the skeleton of the vessel.
-Sausalito, Calif. March 20, 2015- Guy Matthews (left) and Bruce Lindsey (right) shout to the workers above them for tools.
-Sausalito, Calif. March 20, 2015- One of the volunteers stands on a ladder working on the belly of the Matthew Turner Educational Tall Ship.
-Sausalito, Calif. March 20, 2015- Hal Mooz works on drilling wooden plugs for the Matthew Turner Educational Tall Ship.
-Sausalito, Calif. March 20, 2015- Hal Mooz holds a section of the wooden plugs that will be used for the Matthew Turner Educational Tall Ship. There will be more than ten thousand plugs used to protect the nuts, bolts and screws from the salt water in the San Francisco Bay.
-Sausalito, Calif. March 20, 2015- A volunteer takes a quick break as another volunteer below continues to work.
Mammatus
Lightning
Cumulonimbus
Cumulus
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- A portrait of Tulsa Pride participant Estee Robinson.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Tulsa Pride participants move about near the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Brooke (left) and Dacie (right) stand proudly at Tulsa Pride with their daughter Mylee.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- A protester (name withheld) points towards the camera while wearing an anti-homosexual shirt to show his oppression against the Tulsa Pride participants.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Signs of support were present from locals for Tulsa Pride participants.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Megan Benedict and Morgan Echols enjoy the sunny day outside the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center during Tulsa Pride
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- A protester (name withheld) Waves his Bible as he preaches from across the street to participants of Tulsa Pride.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- David Wilson plays music from his phone, through his loudspeaker to drown out the sound of the Tulsa Pride protesters.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Protesters stand outside of the Tulsa Pride festivities shouting while one man reads from his Bible.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- A Tulsa police officer stands in the middle of the street, maintaining the peace between the protesters and the Tulsa Pride participants. No violence transpired during the event.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Members of The Tulsa Sisters carry the Pride banner past the protesters at Tulsa Pride.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- A member of The Tulsa Sisters stands next to the large, colorful Pride banner.
-Tulsa, Okla. June 6, 2015- Eureka Fear, of The Tulsa Sisters stands waiting for the parade at Tulsa Pride.
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-Denver, Colorado-
The door to the apartment swung open. “Hello friend!” Mandour shouted with a thick Sudanese accent. “Come in come in, welcome!” The living room filled with smells of potatoes being steamed and hot tea being served. The two beds in the living room were made neatly. One had zebra print sheets tucked tightly all the way around. Mandour’s roommate, Ahmed, sat at the table practicing his English homework for the week. “Past simple, present perfect,” he muttered. Mandour and Ahmed share this small space. They are refugees.
Mandour and Ahmed have lived in Denver for a little more than six months. Almost three years ago they fled their home country of Sudan to escape ongoing violence and conflict. Mandour spent the past three years applying for relocation through nonprofit organizations. During those times, he spent his time moving through refugee camps around Africa. He recalled the moments that seemed void of future or opportunity, “Living in the camp was very hard. It was very difficult times for us.”
Mandour’s journey to America was made possible through the African Community Center of Denver. The ACC is a smaller, satellite organization of its big sister, the Ethiopian Community Development Council. The ACC was founded in Denver in 2001 with one major goal in mind; giving refugees and asylees the opportunity to rebuild sustainable lives and become a familiar and comfortable to their new culture and society. Every year the ACC serves more than 500 refugees and asylees.
Upon arrival, refugees are met at the airport by a case manager or volunteer and are taken to housing that has been provided through the organization. In the following weeks the case handler and volunteer will work with the refugees to familiarize them with the ways of the city. This entails things such as learning the RTD public transportation system and how to call the police. The ACC also helps with health care by establishing primary care with new refugees after providing a full screening and a physical. They also help with employment opportunities through their Community Work Experience Program. With CWEP refugees are hired as interns into local participating businesses. Through the working internship experience they can be hired as future employees and gain helpful skills that will allow them to further succeed. The ACC is nothing short of a big brother and an advocate for refugees coming to Denver. They bridge that big, scary gap of the unknown and help the refugees become comfortable with the upcoming changes and transitions.
Mandour’s life before Denver was not void of success or opportunity. He is a law graduate from Al-Neelain University in Khartoum, Sudan. He is a well educated man with a passion to continue his work in law. “I want to work like I did in Sudan, but I can’t in America. So I will work where I can.” Mandour now parks returned rental cars at Denver National Airport five days a week.
A knock at the door distracted Mandour. The door opened and there stood Mandour’s brother with his wife and two young girls, all of whom are also refugees. Ahmed shuffled his papers into the corner and moved to make room for the little girls at the table. “Batatas!” Mandour shrieked with excitement. Arabic conversations echoed from the living room and kitchen. The aroma of sickly sweet tea filled the apartment as Mandour returned to the table with a plate full of steaming potatoes, onions, tomatoes and a loaf of bread. “Please, stay and eat with us,” he said.
Mandour fled Sudan to seek refuge from the violence, leaving his home behind. He will live a new life in Denver until he feels ready to return to his self-proclaimed true home in Sudan.
-Denver, Colo. February 23, 2014- Ahmed has lived in refugee camps in Libya, Egypt and Sudan. He arrived in America two months ago and considers it home. Originally from Darfur, he says the weather and mountains remind him of his childhood.
-Denver, Colo. February 23, 2014- Ahmed lies silhouetted against the light as he tries to read his grammar text book.
-Denver, Colo. February 23, 2014- Ahmed looks at a picture of his boy. Ahmed has three sons that still reside in Darfur. He has hopes to see them once again.
-Denver, Colo. March 2, 2014- Mandour stands in front of a busy Denver street while walking home at night after searching for a job.
-Denver, Colo. February 23, 2014- As Mandour gets ready, he speaks with his friend Dan in the single bedroom apartment that he shares with Ahmed.
-Denver, Colo. February 16, 2014- Mandour spends every night writing and practicing his English with his roommate Ahmed.
-Denver, Colo. April 10, 2014- Mandour, once a lawyer in Sudan, now parks cars at Denver International Airport for employment.
-Elizabeth, Colo. August 20, 2015- Whinny, a trained therapy horse, carefully places one hoof in front of the other. Saddled upon her back sits Hadden Tolles, a young girl battling through a life of obstacles due to the KCNQ2 gene mutation.
-Elizabeth, Colo. Sept. 10, 2015- Hadden and Debbie Mogor are reflected in the mirror as they ride on Whinny while horse therapy assistants guide them through the indoor facility. Horse therapy is one of Hadden’s favorite activities; it is beneficial to building core strength and also mimicking the natural gate of walking in the hips. Hadden is encouraged to hold her head up while riding to build strength in her neck muscles.
-Parker, Colo. August 28, 2015- Hadden smiles as she sits in the school library. Hadden recently changed schools and Iron Horse Elementary School seems to be a great change for her. The other kids are receptive to her and love being around her.
-Parker, Colo. Sept 10, 2015- Hadden and her mother, Erin, participate in a lap running fund raiser at Iron Horse Elementary School. Hadden and Erin ran a total of 32 laps together on a wet, slippery grass track.
-Parker, Colo. August 26, 2015- Erin comforts Hadden as Andrea Stuart searches for a vein so she can prepare the IV for the medication drip.
-Parker, Colo. August 26, 2015- Andrea Stuart gently holds Hadden’s hand as blood drips from the IV after hitting the vein.
-Parker, Colo. Sept 10, 2015- Hadden has grown so much that single-person transfers are not an option anymore. Candice Veo and Hadden’s teacher practice a two-person transfer as Abby, the school therapist watches on and trains them on the proper technique.
-Parker, Colo. Augustt 26, 2015- Hadden and Erin lie together on the hospital bed as the bone-strengthening medicine drips into Hadden’s IV. During this three-hour procedure, Erin spends the time by Hadden’s side. Hadden has had fractures in her bones, lsuch as a broken femur caused by a combination of seizures and lack of bone density. This transfer of medicine must be done every six months to strengthen Hadden’s bones. If she were to stop the medicine, her bones would become brittle and even the least severe of seizures could cause a fracture.
Spruce & Snow
Fungus
Aspens
Sap
Frost
Spruce Sillhouettes
Moss
Pine
Cracks
Leaves & Stump
Stone
Reflections
Aspen Leaves
Clay
Swamp
-Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo. Sept 9, 2015- Steven Walker roars as he emerges from the smoke before their game against the Savannah State Tigers.
-Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo. Sept 9, 2015- Anthony "BJ" Raymond attempts to shake off a tackler during a kick return in the first quarter versus the Colorado State Rams.
-Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo. Sept 9, 2015- A CSU wide receiver gets tackled in the middle of the field after gaining a first down against the Savannah State Tigers.
-Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo. Sept 9, 2015- Richard Williams II battles for yards after contact against the Rams defense during the season opening game.
-Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo. Sept 9, 2015- Brandon Bailey, defensive back of the Savannah State Tigers, dives in an attempt to intercept a pass during their game versus the Colorado Sate Rams.
-Fort Collins, Colo. Sept. 20, 2015-Acacia Andrews annihilates the ball as Eastern Kentucky player, Rachel Vick, attempts to defend the attack during CSU's home victory at Moby Arena.
-Loveland, Colo. Oct. 1, 2015-Loveland Indians Abby Lukes launches a pitch toward home plate against the Fossil Ridge Sabercats during the first inning.
-Fort Collins, Colo. Oct. 1, 2015-Loveland Indians Ayden Eberhardt extends the ball to Noah Pangrac in the first half versus Fort Collins.
-Johnstown, Colo. Sept. 27, 2015- Thena Walton and her horse, ImaKokoBar, sprint through the finish line of the cone course during the Rocky Mountain Carriage Club Fall Follies event.
-Johnstown, Colo. Sept. 27, 2015- Kathy Sassano and her pony, Stonyhill's Merlot, prance through the warm-up course during the Rocky Mountain Carriage Club Fall Follies event.
-Loveland, Colo. Oct. 8, 2015- Mountain View short stop, Alyssa McWillams, takes a chop at an incoming pitch in the top of the fourth inning during their outing versus Thompson Valley High.
-Loveland, Colo. Oct. 8, 2015- Mountain Views third baseman, Kendra Seely slides into home during their outing versus Thompson Valley High.
-Loveland, Colo. Oct. 15, 2015- Kara McKee of Thompson Valley High sits atop a balance beam as a team member takes her turn on another balance beam at the gymnastics meet.
-Loveland, Colo. Oct. 15, 2015- Placing chalk on the hands is essential for grip during the competitors routines at the gymnastics meet.
-Loveland, Colo. Oct. 15, 2015- Shaylee Johnson floats through her balance beam routine during the gymnastics meet.
-Aurora, Colo. Oct. 25, 2015- Brandy Trengove of the Wheat Ridge Farmers stares down a pitch during the 4A State Championships versus the Mountain View Lions.
-Aurora, Colo. Oct. 25, 2015- Jaelyn Taylor races to beat the throw to first during the 4A State Championships versus the Wheat Ridge Farmers.
