Elle Effect » colombia

OAF Project: Seven Glimpses of Hope

laurensusanna — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:54:29 +0000

Last year in July and August, I traveled to work with the Open Arms Foundation through photography and dance/movement. Stephen and I documented the heart of what the Foundation is all about, and have released much of our work over this past year to further raise awareness for the Foundation itself and the heartbreaking and hopeful stories and statistics of the street children living in Medellin. My heart is forever connected to these people.

I feel as though I’m there in spirit with Stephen, John and Mallory as they work, and you can be too –

Seven Glimpses of Hope: WEBSITE

There has been much preparation for this project, Seven Glimpses of Hope. Join in watching as daily videos are released over the next SEVEN days, May 27-June 3.

This group of artists will be highlighting where the Foundation is directly involved, and how you can get involved. I’ve never experienced such an organically run, listening, loved-filled group of people changing and literally saving the lives of children on the streets… every day. This only begins to touch on what they do.

Some unreleased photographs from my time in Colombia last year.

Open Arms Foundation – #3

laurensusanna — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:08:47 +0000

Cannot wait to release the rest of these photographs… some of my favorites will remain under wraps until then.

Take a moment and think about playing Dutch Blitz in Espaniol… ; )

Open Arms: Medellin, Colombia Pt. 2

laurensusanna — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:25:26 +0000

Processing through another batch of photos from my time with the Open Arms Foundation in Medellin.

Moravia, Colombia

laurensusanna — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:19:47 +0000

We gathered in a two-story brick and cement building in the middle of Moravia. Climbing stairs slowly as little feet ran past me, laughing. The stench didn’t matter. The language barrier didn’t quite matter, either. We were meeting to rehearse for the big concert. They had been rehearsing for months, and this was their time to show me what they had learned. I doubt I could be glowing more than when I watched them move.

They motioned for me to join in on the movement. I danced, they danced, we danced — back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Laughter being our melody continually those two hours of time.

We watched the sun go down together. No flashes with me – just natural light and a high ISO at sundown and then, altogether, no more camera. No more snapshots. Just us.

I’m a little more confident in my skill of salsa thanks to these young ones who could do the steps in their sleep. They shrieked and their eyes widened when I would lift a girl onto my back and walk across the room, spinning her, and placing her back on her feet. Potentially a bad idea, because every little girl in the room now had to do the very same thing. Then, they caught on to the movement and copied… lifting friends and laughing, walking across the room with me.

Movement allowed me to communicate what my tongue could not, and I am thankful.

There are currently very difficult, finanical situations occurring with Open Arms Foundation.
I will be posting a letter from the Founder, Bill Perrow, and express the need to
continue to be aware of in helping these street children in Colombia find a home again.

I will be selling photographs from my time in Colombia to help keep the Foundation doors open.
More information to come this week.

Open Arms Foundation Promotional Video #1

laurensusanna — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:01:50 +0000

[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/6938447 w=520]

My brother, Stephen, put this video together for OAF – first of many. I’ve seen sneak peeks of others videos on the edge of release, and am thrilled. Benefit Show promotional videos for OAF will be released and posted here soon, as well. God is moving through Open Arms.

Emotion/Expressive

laurensusanna — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:46:14 +0000

all taken in Medellin, Colombia.

a little story.
when I look at this photo, I hold my breath a little.. knowing the very girl reaching out for her friend’s hand. to support, to be supported. this was taken at the Open Arms Downtown Center mid-afternoon. the girls had just showered, clothes were drying on the banister overlooking the pool-area. conversation and attentive listening between the staff and girls took place: gently, quietly. laughter. open air. scent of exhaust.

another story.
this young girl came to listen in a children’s church service saturday morning in her town. just a story above moravia, a group of people gathered to teach, laugh and love the kids through song, dancing, puppetry and interaction. she stayed near the door for the entirety of our time there: attentive, sucker popping in-and-out… pop, click, pop, chew. tapping her foot. smiling at me.

(click for detailed view)
my taxi sat behind buses at a stoplight, downtown medellin. a man to my right sits… without motion – only emotion. I had to process so much in so little time. focus, assess, process, capture. flipping through what I had caught later, I relived moment after moment. some surprised me, some I do not recall and lived for the very first time, some… I cried looking at. what I had a responsibility to capture overwhelmed me. only by Grace could I begin to comprehend it all.

Open Arms Foundation – Medellin, Colombia (Pt 1)

laurensusanna — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:11:07 +0000

First post of many — excited to finally debrief this amazing, challenging trip with you!

I spent 12 packed days in this country. In the overwhelming & amazing city of Medellin, on a dairy and produce farm in San Pedro and in the heart of downtown where kids come off the streets to spend the day being nourished – physically, emotionally and spiritually – at the Foundation’s Patio program.

Most of the city shots you see in Medellin are taken from the hip in taxis — more graphic photos will filter through here shortly, so do be aware. Medellin is very diverse, intense, breathtaking and heart wrenching all in one.

These faces changed how I see the world. More in detail to come.

Onward to Medellin, Colombia…

laurensusanna — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:41:07 +0000

The past few weeks have flown by. I’m writing to you from the Charlotte airport — thanks to their free wifi connection.
(thank you, Charlotte)

Right now, I’m on my way to Medellin, Colombia with a team of amazing artists and dancers.

Quick overview of this media mission trip:
Stephen and I are assessing Open Arms in their needs of updated media (videos, web design, graphics/logo, photographs). We’ve got a pretty tight schedule of meetings and shooting time downtown Medellin, in the Barrios and at the Boy’s Farm. You’ll hear more about this in detail as time goes on, I don’t want to overload you just yet! Preparing for this trip has been utterly exciting and a blessing. Thankful to finally be on our way!

We’ll be heading back to finish shooting (video + photo) in Sept/Oct this year.

As for the other part of this trip…

(a few photos of the dancers)

We have a team of dancers from my area (and one from New York!) taking part in in a 2hr community arts performance downtown Medellin at the Pablo Tobon Uribe Theater on August 3rd to bring awareness to Open Arms Foundation. We’ll be performing 3 dance pieces choreographed by Jerusha Aman (NY) and myself with other dancers, artists and musicians. We’ll be learning their traditional cultural dances in a huge finale, as well. Honored to be a part of this! They’ll be much documentation of the night by Stephen… so don’t worry, you’ll see the videos of the pieces on here, I’m sure

(Jerusha)

There you have it! An update!

I most likely won’t be updating in Colombia.
I’m home the 5th.

Until then!
(PRAY)