“It was amazing to be invited into a refugee’s family home. Once the word got out, the whole community started showing up.”

Shine

Cameras Used:

Canon 200

Black Magic Pocket Cinema

I got the opportunity to partner with a friend and family member to highlight what she and many other women are doing in DFW. Project Shine is an organization that works with young refugee girls and partners them with a local mentor. They do a lot of intentional work and a lot of hanging out!

It blew my mind to see how it changes both people's viewpoints. The girls have a genuine love for their mentors and it radiates on their faces. The apartment we gathered in was the family home of one of the young women in the program. It was so amazing to be invited into a refugee's family home. Once the word got out, the whole community started showing up. What you can't see off-camera, is about 40+ people crammed into a 200 sq. foot space.

Knowing how to use a camera has gotten me to some amazing places and the opportunity to capture a beautiful untold story. Even if it sounds familiar, it is unique. The stories these girls and their mentors shared will always stay with me. Stories have opened my eyes to see the world differently. Most video and photo work is less about the equipment and more about connecting with the subject. It’s an exercise in empathy and compassion that brings about humility. You realize what an honor it is to just be there.