Russell Sherman's Lady Jane

Fisherman Russell Sherman stands in the cabin of his boat, the Lady Jane, on Wednesday, January 7, 2009. After graduating from Harvard, Sherman interned on a Gloucester fishing boat one summer in the 1970s and, despite constricting government regulations of the fishing industry, has not stopped since. [Erika Volchan O'Conor]

Sad Saxophone

Herman Johnson braves the cold exterior of Faneuil Hall on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009. Herman's tears rolled down his face not only from the chilling wind, but also from the effort it took to belt the Disney and jazz songs that could be heard for blocks around. [James B. Choca]

Harvard Strings

A violinist checks his bow Wednesday, January 7, 2009 on the inbound Harvard subway platform. The student busker was claiming a lot of attention in the underground with his classical serenades. [James B. Choca]

When You Can't Do Any Worse

My story is shifting in focus. I originally set out wanting to show the similarities and differences of the unemployment experiences of the wealthy and poor, but as I've researched and interviewed I've realized that there is a larger problem. When business executives are laid off they take middle management jobs, when office assistants are deemed nonessential they become waiters and waitresses, and when construction workers and other low-income citizens get fired they can find themselves begging on the streets. Every panhandler, beggar, or homeless person that I've spoken with this week has told me how hard it has gotten in the last few months to get by with donations from good Samaritans. Not only because of the universal economic strain felt by all resulting in less of an ability to give, but also because of an increasing large population on the streets.

My project is centered on Vinnie Panico, a retired volunteer social worker who offers his time to the homeless free of charge but still has to stand in line at food banks and stay up to date with free meals at shelters to get by. He is a truly inspiring figure. After spending his life working at the Massachusetts State House he went down Park St. to Saint Paul's Episcopalian Church to give his time to the needy, even though he's never had much to give. He told me his story when I spent the day with him, and also took me to the Paulist Center/food bank and showed me where he used to work.

Vinnie Panico, a volunteer social worker, stands outside of the Paulist Center Food Bank, feet from the Massachusetts State House where he worked all his life.  Panico lives retirement check to retirement check but still gives himself to helping those who are less fortunate than him.

Maria asks for money in Harvard Square early on the morning of January 8th.  She

receives unemployment insurance from the government but relies on panhandling to buy luxury items like cups of coffee.  

-Aalok Kanani

Jacob Silberberg and Jim MacMillan critique student work during the 2009 Boston Workshop.

Jim MacMillan works with students during an evening critique session.

Islam on the Streets

When I think Boston, I think Irish Catholics with a few Italians thrown into the mix. However, in studying the Muslim community in the Boston area during this workshop, I have found that they are certainly a population that is well represented and thoroughly visible (but then again, I have known where to look). 

Having studied Arabic for the past year and a half accompanied by a smattering of Quranic readings, I have developed a certain appreciation of Arab culture. Explaining this background to members of the Muslim community in Boston, I have found that there is an intense desire on their part to educate non-Muslims about Islam. Multiple times throughout the week I have been told that they believe that it is Allah who has led me to them for their information and assistance in understanding. 

The disconnect I have found is in that the Muslim community is open and more than willing to educate non-Muslims, whereas from all that I have seen this week, the non-Muslim community is not as forthcoming in this move toward mutual understanding.  Classes intended for both new Muslims and non-Muslims to learn about Islam - Islam 101, sponsored by the Muslim American Society (housed in the ISBCC) - are lacking any non-Muslim participants. 

In such a critical time of needing understanding throughout the world, I can only hope that all parties will be as open for discussion as I have found the Muslim community in Boston to be.

A muslim woman wearing a burqa gets off the T at Roxbury Crossing to go to the ISBCC on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. The ISBCC has been drawing worshippers from around Boston, altering the shape of Muslim congregations of Greater Boston.

- Meredith Klein

Finding a Way In

My first few days in Chinatown were frustrating, to say the least. A large proportion of the people I attempted to shoot on the street did not speak English and were extremely reluctant to talk to me or let me photograph them. As I became more familiar with the neighbourhood, I realized that it was split into two very different areas. The Eastern portion, adjacent to the financial district, is teeming with restaurants and shops, whereas the predominantly residential area by New England Medical Center is home to a surprisingly high number of community organizations. On Monday night, I found out about a ping pong club which met at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. Unlike the people I approached on the street, several members of the CCBA welcomed me and eagerly discussed their views on Chinatown, urban planning, education, music and other topecs.



I had a somewhat similar experience at the Chinatown Progressive Association, where I had scheduled an interview with Lisette Le. Lisette was initially slightly skeptical, warning me that she did not want to talk to me if I was planning to give a inaccurate, premediated impression of the neighbourhood. I told her that I had done quite a bit of background research and intended exactly the opposite - I wanted to expose misconceptions, hear the perspectives of residents and describe what the community. She seemed satisfied, if not slightly impressed, by my efforts to accurately portray Chinatown and agreed that it often seems to be a very introverted community for outsiders, but asserted that it happens because many residents are vulnerable, not because they are exclusive. Interestingly, Lisette's explanation was a pretty accurate representation of my own experiences - upon approaching people on the street, they were often guarded, but once I met a few people and showed them that I did not intend to take advantage of them, they were happy to open up to me.

- Alykhan Mohamed