Memorial Day

I've been thinking a lot about memorial day and the various reasons that we as Americans send our sons and daughters overseas.

What are these reasons? Are they true or false? Do we believe what we are told? Do we believe in our government? Given my history, I find myself awkwardly straddling the chasm that spans honoring the profound sacrifice that has been laid upon what Lincoln called "the altar of freedom" and a deep question reflex in my mind that so frequently asks "Has this all been worth it?" Has it been worth the human lives expended to honor pieces of colored fabric that we like to call flags?

The quickest way to end a war, according to George Orwell, is to lose it. I'm going to hold that one in my mind for today. At the moment, it feels much more valid than a parade.

A flag lays discarded in a Vermont cemetery in 2011

For more work of my work check out today's article in Vermont Commons as well as my website, Facebook page, and Twitter via @LivefromGround

March Against Monsanto

Despite a cold and rainy day, I managed to have a bit of fun photographing the March Against Monsanto earlier today in Montpelier, VT. Click each photo to view in full screen.

For more of my work check out the companion article at Vermont Commons

Also be sure to vist my website, Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter via @LivefromGround

Recovered Photographs of Hurricane Sandy Relief

Hello everyone,

As I was preparing my gear to cover a story this coming weekend, I randomly decided to run one of my cards through a data recovery program. Lo and Behold, I found a batch of photographs (slightly chewed upon) from some work I did while volunteering with Occupy Sandy back in November. I pulled the survivors and figured I'd post them here.

Special shout out to Jo and Alaena for taking the journey with me to New York.

For more of my work check out:
My column with Vermont Commons
My shiny new website.
and follow me on Twitter via @LivefromGround
in addition to my Facebook page.

Happy May Day 2013

Once again workers from across Vermont gathered in the Capital City of Montpelier to show solidarity and support for one another. Here's the photos!

Spring Re-ignites Vermonters

Photographing around Vermont this Spring I found myself at several meetings here and there discussing community organizing with Pedagogy of the Poor as well as citizens of Vermont towns working to oppose and resist expansion of natural gas pipelines through working-class communities.

Special thanks to Rising Tide Vermont as well as Pedagogy of the Poor for their respective (and interconnected) of community/ecological rights as well as picking up the torch of MLK's Poor People's Campaign.

A resident of Monkton, VT traces the path of a proposed natural gas pipeline through her town

Residents of several towns in rural Vermont gather to discuss plans to oppose a proposed natural gas pipeline 

An organizer with Rising Tide Vermont animatedly discusses the affects of pipelines on a community

Residents discuss a strategy to oppose the planned pipeline through several rural communities

Gathering in the local United Unitarian Church, residents of Burlington, VT discuss the Pedagogy of the Poor, an organization to re-ignite MLK's Poor People's Campaign

A "poverty scholar" leads a discussion while sharing her own understanding of poverty

Willie Baptist "preaches" to citizens and organizers about leadership, the poor, and shared struggle

Willie Baptist