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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Tina's Project: Until They Have Faces


When do you get to call yourself a writer? My tagline at Life is Good says, “wanna be writer”. I've had readers leave comments to the effect of, “You are a writer! Don't be so hard on yourself!” It is true that I've been writing my whole life, because it's been an important life goal to write a novel. I have confidence I'll reach that goal one day.  Meanwhile, I'm sharing my first by-line.

I've been blogging for a while now, and am enjoying this world immensely. The community that we build and the support we give each other is incredible. For example, I'm getting the chance to borrow this blog to tell you about this project!

I wrote a piece for a coffee table book called, “Until They Have Faces.” It's a fundraiser for the joint benefit of The Bridge House in Boulder, CO, and BOHO:Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow, which are both organizations that minister to the homeless community. All the work to produce the book was done by volunteers. The photographer took professional portraits of each subject. Lights, camera, smile, the whole thing. He used the setting each was most comfortable with. Some were taken to his studio, others shot “on location” The goal was to give them a face, and a voice as the writers turned interviews into word portraits.




It took a lot more volunteers than just those taking pictures and writing words. The editing, book design, lay-out, proof-reading and other such tasks were also donated to the project by professionals willing to help. I'm honored to be part of such an endeavor.

If you'd like to learn more about this project, you can visit the photographer's blog dedicated to this project: Faces For The Homeless. You can also can learn more at the blog, BOHO: Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow. This particular post I'm sending you to is from November, but I thought it gave the most info in a short read.

I'm very pleased to say that 100% of the sale price of the book goes to BOHO and The Bridge House. I'm thinking these books will sell quickly since Boulder, CO, is a very active community working creatively to serve the homeless population. The book is meant to open eyes and break down stereotypes. I can't wait to see the finished product at the reception/dedication tonight!







20 comments:

  1. This is fantastic. What a great project.

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  2. What an amazing project. Is the book done and available to purchase? I think we all need to give back at least a little. Great post.
    A2ZMommy and What’s In Between

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  3. I'm an educational homeless liaison for our school district. What a great thing to help out in this way.

    Teresa

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  4. There are so many different ways in which we can be involved in projects to assist the less fortunate - it's part of our social responsibility and every little bit counts...
    This is a great project!

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  5. this is an awesome project tina...thank you for doing your part for the less fortunate...

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  6. What a wonderful cause! Remind us when it's available.

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  7. What an awesome. Initiative and that cover is divine. I there anyway I can help if you wanna spread the word?

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  8. What a marvelous project. I volunteered at a soup kitchen for many years, and wrote about my experiences with the homeless on my blog last year. As your project title indicates, once society recognizes the homeless as individuals with real faces and real lives instead of as a de-humanized mass, their needs become more real and, hopefully, more difficult to ignore.

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  9. Wow Tina, this is so great! And such a lovely cause too! I'm with Wendy if you want some help spreading the word! :)

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  10. Tina,

    Have a great time at the reception. I hope you can get a copy to keep on your bookshelf.

    The moment at which one gets to call himself or herself a writer varies from person to person. It all depends on what your definition of a writer is and whether you represent that. For some, that may mean when they have published their first book and for others that may mean when they have a piece published in a specific magazine or newspaper or when they get paid for their written words, etc. the list can go on and on.

    You now have work that is in a book for sale while you also maintain an online "publication," if you will, so I'd say you're a writer. The question is, do you?

    Be proud and claim it!

    Happy Saturday~! :)

    The Madlab Post

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  11. Great cause and a worthwhile post. Homelessness seems to be a problem that is becoming more prevalent.

    Lee

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  12. Many thanks to all of you who left such kinds words and offers of support. That means a lot to all of us who worked on this project. I usually respond to comments by email, so if you do not have yours available to respond to, it does take some digging, which I'm more than willing to do, but it does mean you'll wait longer for your response.
    Thanks again, all of you. I'll be talking to your email in a minute...just got home from the reception which was an amazing experience. I'm going to post about that tomorrow at Life is Good, and I'd be honored if you stop by. My turn here at the A-Z is over until April. It was a privilege to get two days in the same week...
    Tina @ Life is Good
    Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
    Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge

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  14. That is a great opportunity to be a part of such an amazing project.

    Great post!

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  15. Congratulations! What a wonderful project for you to have been a part of. I definitely hope it sells well.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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  16. Tina - this is a wonderful, heartfelt post.
    I'm sorry to be so late to the "posting party" I confess the time is racing past me so quickly I am hard pressed to remember what day I am in/on!

    I'm going to see how I can acquire a copy of this book!
    And congratulations of having contributed a piece to the book. I would love to read it!

    Again...thank you for sharing this project with us.

    Jenny @ Pearson Report
    Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
    Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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  17. I am in the book and would like to sign ic you purchase one. Jesse Deane

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  18. I am in the book and would like to sign ic you purchase one. Jesse Deane

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  19. Kudos to you! This is positively wonderful!

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