Picturing hunger in America

[sheshe2]

BY MARY JO BROOKS February 18, 2014 at 2:38 PM EST


Elizabeth Deak (left) talks about her work with “Hunger Through My Lens,” a project sponsored by Hunger Free Colorado.

“Hunger Through My Lens” has a dual mission: to empower people who are living in poverty and to promote awareness about hunger issues. Sponsored by the non-profit group Hunger Free Colorado, the program gives digital cameras to food stamp recipients and asks them to chronicle what it’s like to be hungry in America.

So far, 15 women — who come from all walks of life — have participated in the pilot program. Over the months, they’ve formed a “sisterhood” of sorts, supporting and encouraging one another. One woman is a former paralegal who suffers from autism. One is a family practice physician. A third woman is HIV-positive and has struggled with chronic homelessness. A fourth just got off government assistance and is now an executive director of a local non-profit organization.

Their photos are as diverse as the women themselves. At first glance, many of the photos don’t necessarily appear to depict hunger; one shows two driver’s licenses, another a bent fork. But the stories behind the photos tell about the complications and suffering that poverty brings. The work has been on display in Denver libraries, churches, coffee houses and even the Colorado Capitol. At each exhibit opening, the women come to talk about their personal stories.

“This issue is hard to talk about. There’s so much stigma attached to hunger in America,” said Kathy Underhill, director of Hunger Free Colorado. Underhill says she has seen a real blossoming among the women and is so proud of them for speaking out, because their photos and stories help break down negative stereotypes.

“The stress of $50 a week — $2.40 per person, per day for one mom, two kids.”



snip

Read More: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/picturing-hunger-in-america/#.UwT4-TNRLMw.facebook

[Riftaxe]

1. Hunger in America

IS much like the poverty forum on this board, just ignored.

But at least you know who Mary Jo Brooks is now...

[Riftaxe]

2. On reflection it was not proper to call out someone who is doing nothing

about the problem...by reporting on someone who is doing nothing about the problem out....

Allow me to condense the article for any other heathens out there



Photo by Elizabeth Deak

"This photo represents a couple of things for me. First, you can’t eat with a broken fork just like people in this country can’t eat because of a broken system. But the photo also symbolizes the delicate balancing act that people in poverty have to maintain– finding employment, housing, transportation and food.”

[sheshe2]

16. Crickets from all my responses to you.

Two posts I could have alerted on this and calling me a troll. Yet I did not.

I have no clue why you decided to be so nasty to me. Guess you never really understood what the OP was about. Shame on you.

[sheshe2]

13. Actually had you read the article and links you would be better informed.

The 15 women—all directly impacted by hunger and residing in the Denver metro area—are participants of Hunger Through My Lens, an advocacy project facilitated by Hunger Free Colorado, the state’s leading anti-hunger nonprofit organization. The participants lead the project aimed at shedding light on the reality of hunger in Colorado communities. It is based on the photovoice model, a form of participatory action research widely used in academic and other fields. Digital cameras are the main medium for participants to express themselves and put real stories to the overwhelming statistics focused on hunger and food stamps.

http://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/news.html

Please join Hunger Free Colorado and Hunger Through My Lens participants for a photo exhibit that sheds light on the reality of hunger in our communities. Fifteen women from the Denver metro area will showcase their photographs and stories, letting you into their lives.

http://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/

[butterfly77]

3. K&R..

[theHandpuppet]

4. I'd love to see an exhibit like this in cities across America

The one I could really relate to was the photo of the bananas. I used to live & work in a large urban area and although I had my own transportation, many of the people in my neighborhood did not. I used to travel to the burbs to get my food because the store in my own neighborhood was were they trucked the crappy stuff -- produce that was too bruised, too old, too limited and overpriced. The cheap cuts of meat, often looking as if they were past their selling date. I've seen it. I know this sounds weird but in a way I was glad my neighbors didn't realize how bad it was.

[Riftaxe]

5. Did you read the photo montage

I must have missed something other then a rich white girl taking pictures about everyday items.

The contempt is not aimed at you by any means.

[sheshe2]

14. Please do read, the link I left you in post 13.

It is not about a rich white girl taking photographs!

Fifteen women from the Denver metro area will showcase their photographs and stories, letting you into their lives.

http://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/

[Egalitarian Thug]

6. You already have one. Tell me what city you live in and I'll tell you where to find it.

Every city in America has this on display, most have had three decades or longer to practice hiding it. Criminalizing poverty has been advancing all this time.

But you want an art exhibit.

[Riftaxe]

7. Everything is new under the sun

to those who have not seen it. The latter part i think we all as a group need to work on, I highly suspect the OP is just a troll and darned if i will bat away potential allies in this cause.

[Egalitarian Thug]

8. You're right. I'm going to go do something productive now.

You've brought up the same point (unintentionally and tangentially) that Ms Thug does every day.

I let the stupid suck me in and get me all wound up about things I can do nothing about. What I can do is load up the car and head down to tent-town to see what people need today.

[Riftaxe]

9. Damn well done.

just that.

[Egalitarian Thug]

10. OK, just looked at the clock.

I'll have to wait for people to wake up first.

[sheshe2]

15. Troll, you are calling out another DU member?

Seriously!!!!

[maddezmom]

11. K&R

[KitSileya]

12. The most powerful moment on TV IMO is in the West Wing

when Governor Bartlet admitted that he voted against the farmers to make sure that milk stayed cheap because 1 in 5 children in America live below the poverty line. It hasn't gotten any better since, and we certainly haven't gotten many politicians willing to stand up for poor people against the agri-corps. Making hunger visible is an important thing, but it seems that soon everyone will be hungry except the very rich. It's so frustrating.