Dr. Agathe Jean-Baptiste of the Central Plateau, Haiti

March 17, 2014June 11, 2014 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

Dr. Agathe Jean-Baptiste, grew up in the Central Plateau of Haiti where she returned to practice medicine after completing her medical training in Cuba. She is the daughter of Agronomist Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize and founder of the Peasant Movement of Haiti (M.P.P); the oldest and largest peasant cooperative in Haiti, with 60,000 plus members.

Above, Dr. Jean-Baptiste gives instruction on womb fetal positioning during a Midwifery training course for MPP collective members. 40 members from the collective participated in the free training.

(at right) Nurse, teacher-trainer Maestra Denise Desormeaux asks questions of Midwife student and MPP member Jean Jolles during the oral exam segment of the training. Jolles was one of 40 students, from throughout Haiti attending the week-long training.”I want to work and help within in my community and protect the women in my community,” Jolles said.

Virgen de Guadalupe

December 12, 2013April 22, 2019 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

It’s days like today that I miss the voices, songs, and processions in my childhood neighborhood. There is something about the tradition of mothers and daughters winding their way through the neighborhood, to me that invokes the origins and peace of the Christmas holiday. S.IMG_3656 webIMG_1853_2 aef_esperanza Photos copyright ana elisa fuentes

100,000 pilgrims head to suburban Chicago shrine for annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration (suntimes.com)
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (vox-nova.com)

Las Fronteras: Sueños Comadres y Manos

November 23, 2013November 23, 2013 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

Ephemera from the Las Fronteras: Sueños, Commadres y Manos or The Borders: Dreams, Godmothers and Hands exhibit I curated for the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, at a young age. It was such an honor to work with this group of talented Latina Artists, depicting their lives, culture, memories and relationships with one another, hence Commadres. The glyphs beside the text are from Mayan culture, the land my father was born.

Little Boy of 1945

August 5, 2013August 5, 2013 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

American airmen dropped Little Boy on the city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, followed by Fat Man over Nagasaki on 9 August. Read more here

Gathering to remember Hiroshima victims of atomic bomb (hastingsobserver.co.uk)
Wasteland: Mother and Child, Hiroshima, 1945 (life.time.com)
The Men Who Dropped the Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (todayifoundout.com)
Hiroshima marks anniversary of US atomic bombing (straitstimes.com)

A Line in the Sand: 100 City Trayvon

July 21, 2013May 10, 2020 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

Location: Seattle, the question: “Why Are You Here Today”Trayvon Gilliam of Seattle, “I’m here to show support for Trayvon. For justice” When I asked him if he had anything else to say or if he wanted to add anything else, Trayvon replied “Isn’t that enough.”

(l-r) Father and son, Glenn and Jennar, of Redmond, Washington: “This is my son’s first rally. We attended President Obama’s inauguration.” Jennar: “I don’t think it’s fair, what happened to Trayvon Martin. Marissa Alexander fired a warning shot and she got jail. Her husband should have gone to jail. George Zimmerman should have gone to jail. It’s good that people came here to show they care.”

(l-r) Son and mother Myles and Vanessa of Edmonds Washington: Vanessa: “It’s my opportunity to come and participate. We need our justice system revamped. I think the verdict is just another statement of this. Young black men are profiled because of the color of their skin. It’s unjust. I want justice for everyone. I don’t want my son to be another statistic. I am here to represent who I am”

Myles: “Don’t visualize me as a wrong person just because of the color of my skin. Don’t profile me”

(l-r) Two friends speaking: Ahoua of Seattle: I’m here to demand justice for Trayvon. To keep his name alive. I have two young boys of my own. Trayvon did nothing wrong. I do not want him to be forgotten” Holding the flag is Gwen of Seattle” “I’m here because we need accountability. He is dead. This child did nothing wrong. I have granchildren. Are they next? We are all the same. We’ve all come together, sorry we here again.”

At front, is Cheryl of Seattle: “I have black people in my family. I have black grandchildren. We talk about race all the time. All the time. They tell me whats really going on. 70 percent of black men have been, are in, or will be put in jail. My family is humiliated. Humiliated every day. They are terrified. They are frightened to leave the house. Afraid they are going to be the next to get killed. Last week my grandson was blowing kisses from the parking garage to his wife on the sidewalk below. The police stopped him and her, and asked her if that man was bothering her. My grandchildren ask me to take them downtown because they know I will protect them.”

Cheryl of Seattle, above left.

A Line in the Sand. What’s it all about?

If you draw a line in the sand, as the saying goes, you draw distinction, sets boundaries, throw the proverbial gauntlet. Simply say, enough is enough.

This column aims to address the tantamount concerns facing our environment, culture, society, and ethos. There is no better way, in my humble opinion other than to record the visual and opinion of the person on the street.

Think of it as a visual cross section of Americans.

I really love people. It is the joy of my profession is to speak, engage and converse with other people. I really do, love to listen and hear what people have to say.

My method is simple.

I ask a question. Write down the answer. Speak back what I’ve heard.

This keeps me in balance as a journalist, and gives the participant the space to add, ameliorate or subtract from the sum total of our conversation.

My twitter paper, also titled A Line in the Sand, may be found here

Justice for Trayvon rally in Seattle (q13fox.com)
Trayvon Martin rallies in Seattle, around country (q13fox.com)

Shundahai

June 16, 2013June 16, 2013 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

Sunrise Prayer – Shundahai – Peace and Harmony With All of Creation

image copyright anaelisafuentes

Honoring Don Calamar

November 11, 2012December 3, 2012 | Ana Elisa Fuentes

Today honoring, remembering Don Calamar today, a Combat photographer and Silver Medalist who survived the Invasion of Normandy. Don, was an influence; my first photography/photojournalist instructor and sometimes father figure . I remember his soft spoken manner; who taught more by example and his actions. His later years were devoted to family, photography instruction, alternative energy, and peace activism. I remember one day having dinner with he and his wife Pat. They were so excited about the meal they had prepared for me using the solar cooker they had constructed in their garden backyard. Don was one of the founding members of Santa Barbara Veterans for Peace and Arlington West.

I am so very grateful to have had a person like Don in my life, especially as a guiding force in my photojournalism career. Thank you for reading this tribute; a testimony to how one life can make a big difference in the lives of others.