CCS Alum asks for... VOTES TO GIVE FREE PORTRAITURE TO NEEDY FAMILIES

I've been sending this around to my CCS friends and Quinn suggested I make a larger call here. I'm a CCS Alum from 2002 and will finish a PhD in International Health and Development within the year. I live in New Orleans and have been very active in our city post-Katrina, helping start a preschool with other parents and volunteering as a translator and advocate for immigrant workers who came for rebuilding jobs after the storm. Still, I've kept a foot in health projects in Latin America, I co-taught a class in Peru last spring and took photographs for Global Health Magazine.

I'm writing to ask other CCS Alum and friends for some "internet" support.

I have entered a contest to win a "dream photography assignment." I've been able to combine photography and global health in a variety of ways (Magazine work, PhotoVoice projects) -- and I pride myself in using the camera respectfully when traveling in less developed areas of the world. My dream assignment is to re-visit some of the places I've worked and traveled with the purpose of providing portraiture sittings to families and then giving them a copy of the photograph. The few times when I have been able to gain enough trust to photograph a family and give back the photo, the impact has been absolutely tremendous. The purpose of this assignment is to give back. To make the photographs about giving, not about taking. It is the type of dream that would only happen through this kind of interesting opportunity, where voting can help decide the fate of the funds.

I thought that this dream of mine would resonant with other globally and socially-minded people, which is why I am reaching out to the CCS community. All I need is enough votes to get into the top 20 by April 3rd... which is where you can help!


HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO …

This is my "idea" page, where you can read about the assignment: http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/coldspaghetti/givi...

Then you need to register (Click “register” in the box on the top right.)

Check your email, click through the verification to bring you back to the main page of the website. You'll have to find my idea page again. Either by going directly back to my “idea” page, OR, by searching on my “name” — coldspaghetti.

Once you are on my Idea Page, click the yellow “PIC” box. It is to the left of the assignment description, under the number of votes. It will change from “PIC” to “PIC’D” which means that you have successfully voted for me.

Then leave me a message so I know you’ve voted. (This part makes me feel less insecure gives me warm fuzzies.)

Extra bonus step… Spread the word to your friends, family, students, co-workers, kids, neighbors, mailman, hairdresser… and ask them to vote, too!

More information? I talk about the assignment on my blog: http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog

Also, you can view a small portion of some of my photography work at my professional website: http://www.fourleafcloverphotography.com/.

THANK YOU thank you thank you... for your support, help, and spreading the word!

Fondly,
Holly