My first assignment was going to an RV auction. Some homeless people live in their vehicles, whether it be a car or RV, and when their vehicles are impounded or towed away, their livelihoods are taken away as well. At these auctions, the vehicles are sold or way less than what they are valued for, and the impound lot doesn't even bother to clean out the vehicles of their possessions, as pictured above. Article
Jim Sykes is a landord in Seattle who is part of the Rental Housing Association of Washington, an organization who was suing the city over rent restrictions. Article
A group calling themselves Anti-Sharia Law protestors, mainly composed of Trump supporters, held a rally in front of Seattle City Hall, speaking out against sharia law with an emphasis on female genital mutilation. A (larger) counter protest took place just across the street from the rally. People brought drums, speakers, and pots and pans (as pictured above) to drown out the noise of the rally. Article
Camp Second Chance is a homeless camp in the White Center area of Seattle. They were going to hold a benefit concert to raise more money so they could purchase materials to build tiny homes on their lot. Camp resident Patrick Mosley stands in front of one of the two tiny houses in the camp at the time. Article
They were able to raise enough money to build 7 new tiny houses in the camp.
A public forum was held at University of Washington's Kane Hall after the death of Charleena Lyles, a black pregnant woman who was shot and killed by Seattle police after they received a call about a burglary at her apartment in north Seattle. Lyles was mentally ill. Members of Lyles' family was in attendance, and they got to speak to a panel of nine Seattle City Counsel members as well as members of the community. Above, Roxanne (right), a member of the First Nations tribe, hugs Lyles' neighbor Lorna Murray after giving an emotional speech about the murder of Native American women by police. Article
Portriat of Lawrence Pitre, a mixed media artist who paints portraits of histories of Seattle neighborhoods as well as his own experiences with racism. Article
The Black Liberation Front of Seattle held a protest to commemorate the one year anniversary of Philandio Castile's death, as well as remember the other victims of police violence. The protest started in Westlake (hey!) Park in downtown and curved it's way through the Capitol Hill neighborhood, pictured above, with a young protester leading the march. Article
EMILY's List, a political action committee that helps train ordinary women to run for office at whatever level (from school board to local and state government) in their "Run to Win" seminars. Women Seattle City Counsel members visited to talk about their experiences running as women. Above, seminar participants work together in one of the few workshops held throughout the seminar. Article
My first cover! I documented Mike Tagawa, one of the only two known Japanese people to join the Black Panthers. Article
Alex Lopez was convicted of selling drugs in Southern California. Now an aspiring businessman, his conviction follows him everywhere he goes, including applying for housing and interviewing for jobs. He fears he'll have to choose between his education and housing. Article
For my last assignment for Real Change, I traveled up to Sumas, WA, located two miles from the Canadian border, to cover a story about farmworkers walking out on the job, and were subsequently fired, in protest of their poor working conditions on the farm they worked at, such as lack of breaks on hot days, being underfed, and becoming sick from pesticides that were sprayed on the field where they worked. One farmworker died because of these conditions, causing the protest. With no income, they were forced to move into tents on a community member's property. Above, a happy looking pit bull "guards" the camp. Good dog. Article