Day 3: Contract Workers in Bandra

While visiting Bandra, just north of where the hotel, I came across two women who were pouring cement in between the slats of stone that were already laid down.  The graciously allowed me to photograph them, and I then later joined them for lunch with the rest of the workers.

Day 2: Dharavi Bakery

Dharavi is known as the "largest Asian-slum", however it is populated with thousands of micro-entrepreneurs  and is estimated to generate at least $800 million each year.  Businesses range from textiles and pottery to recycling programs and bakeries, like the one photographed below.

Day 1: Welcome to Mumbai

A Weary Traveler

 

Sleeping traveler at the Doha International Airport in Qatar.

I am in the Doha International Airport waiting for my flight to Mumbai, India, where I will be staying photographing for the next two weeks.  I am participating in a 10-day photography workshop through Visual Reportage, which is run by two professional photographers Michael Hintlian and Glen Cooper.  This is their first workshop in India, and I have the opportunity to experience it with them.

We will be working with a non-profit organization called C.O.R.O. for Literacy, which began in 1989 by Sujata Khandekar to encourage adult literacy in the Chembur, Mumbai community.  Now, C.O.R.O. works directly in the field to support community development activites; has created a federation of approximately 300 grassroots organizations that address women empowerment, community leadership, adult and youth literacy; and serves as a communicator between these organizations/communities and the private and public parties that will influence the development of these local communities that C.O.R.O. supports.

To read about some programs that C.O.R.O. supports, please visit the following links (these will open into external documents):

- Literacy Project

- Community Leadership Program

In the partnership between C.O.R.O. and Visual Reportage, they will provide each of us a translator, a guide and amazing access to the communities that they work in; in exchange, we will provide them images  that Sujata plans to display in galleries throughout Mumbai as fine art, but also a conversational and educational pieces to inform the community about the urban poverty in the city and the work that C.O.R.O. is doing in the communities.

Sunset on the Resevoir

Man running around the Cleveland Circle Resevoir at sunset in Brighton, Massachusetts.

Champion for Children: Josh Beckett

Josh Beckett (left), an All-Star right-handed pitcher of the Boston Red Sox, received the 2009 Champion Award, at tonight's Champions for Children event, for the difference he is making to the patients at Children's Hospital Boston.  He has raised over $350,000 for the hospital's Oncology Department from the last three annual Beckett Bowl tournaments, his celebrity charity bowling event.

The evening was a dinner and silent auction fundraiser that raised an estimated $2.5M for the programs at Children's Hospital Boston.  Champions for Children began in 1997, by a committee chaired by Rob Griffin (inset right, with his wife, Cathy).  Since then, the event has raised almost $20M for the hospital.

Josh Beckett sits down with the kids as they each ask him an interview question, as WEEI-AM's Glenn Ordway facilitates.  (L to R): Michael Fiacco, age 11; Isabella Shaw, age 10; Michael Lyons, age 8; and Paul Lyons, age 13.)

Josh Beckett interacts with Michael Lyons, 8, and his brother Paul, 13, both patients at Children's Hospital.

Josh Beckett, Red Sox pitcher (center), and Glenn Ordway of WEEI-AM (event emcee), with patients of Children's Hospital.  (L to R): Michael Fiacco, age 11; Maggie Mansfield, age 12; Isabella Shaw, age 10; Caitlyn Murphy, age 13; Michael Lyons, age 8; and Paul Lyons, age 13.

Josh Beckett speaking with the media.

Paul Lyons, of Walpole, MA, looking at auction items with his sons Steven, 9, and Timmy, 11.
Paul's two other sons, Paul, 13, and Michael, 8, were diagnosed with Moyamoya disease and were both treated at Children's Hospital Boston.  Moyamoya is a rare disease that causes stroke, potentially resulting in paralysis, as arteries narrow and starve the brain of oxygen.  The Lyons family is one of only six in the United States that have had two children diagnosed with MoyaMoya.

Mark Marcantano (right), Vice President of Children's Hospital Boston's network and ambulatory services, with 

Children's project managers, Brian Corcoran (left) and Stan Glushik (center).

\Ed Shapiro, a member of the Trust Board, and his wife, Barbara, pose with Josh Beckett.  Ed served on the Board for 4 years.

Commonwealth Hall at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

All images photographed by Leona Merk, on behalf of Metro Boston newspaper.

"Angels Night" in Detroit

This past weekend, I and a group of photographers visited Detroit, Michigan.  Earlier this year, we had heard about "Sparkies" who, during the Halloween weekend, follow fire trucks around the city to photograph the fires that have been set to abandoned buildings around the city.

Guardian Angels, a volunteer group, before patrolling the 

commercial area of Redford, MI.

Young girls dancing at the "Angels Night" rally in Redford, MI.

A firefighter after extinguishing a house fire.

Fire fighters extinguishing flames in a vacant (not-abandoned) house.  

This home was just purchased, however the owner was not home.

Detroit firefighters look on at an apartment building in flames, 

as their fellow firefighters work hard to extinguish the fire.