Reach for the Stars.
“I dreamt recently
that a girl fell from the top of
a skyscraper so tall
by the time she collided with
the concrete below,
they had already told her
she would not make it.”
S Kim Nguyen, March 8.

The one with the tall building and the man. The buildings stand tall and proud. The sun kisses your skin as you take a walk around the city. What is not to love about it?

Diamonds Dancing. The camera flashes our eyes and keeps us from looking at the real picture. Downtown LA has been my home for the last 13 years of my life, but it does not feel the same anymore.

Where are you? From city to city, state to state, gentrification grows and grows. With the rise of the pandemic economic issues come with it. More and more people are losing their place and their memories. The love I have for my city is unexplainable, but there is no love when the city I grew up in has changed, and the community has no love.

The City of Angeles. To live and die in LA.

Unseen Truth. “Los Angeles and Los Angeles County ranked No. 2 for the highest number of people (7,876) experiencing family homelessness. More than 1 in 5 people experiencing homelessness in 2018 were either in New York City or Los Angeles.” (US News, 2019). This is overlooked, but why? Why is it that we choose to drop thousands and sometimes millions of dollars to rebuild and remodel places that don’t need that remodeling? Why is it that people only choose to see the beauty and not the madness?

The Joy of Plants, 2. When I took this photo, I tried to capture a moment of proudness and joy. The woman in this photo is my mother, who loves to grow her plants. It brings her joy, especially during these times. When she showed me the roots that had grown she said, “The roots are a revolutionary act because gardening makes me feel free.”

The Beauty of Books, 2. As well as myself, my 9-year-old brother and little cousin like to read! They love comics and books with drawings! I love seeing them laugh at what they’re reading because they look so happy, and I know the feeling of experiencing joy through books.

The Joy of Plants, 3. His beautiful woman is a family friend, Martha. She started her little garden in the beginning of quarantine and now it has grown so big! She has grown some of her food now, and is holding up one of her squashes. Gardening is a new hobby she has discovered that helps her release anxiety and stress.

Misa Amane Cosplay. This is my cousin Matoi! (Their pronouns are they/them.) They love to cosplay, and I had a mini photo shoot with them. They love cosplaying because it makes them feel safe and free. This is their way of relieving stress and anxiety and a way for them to express themselves. I think that’s beautiful!

Beauty Salons in the Pandemic. Lynda’s Nail Salon. October 2020. Lucy is working for the first time since quarantine started. Her business partners Nancy and Helen had not returned because they were vulnerable. Lucy was able to keep her shop open for 6 weeks before closing down again.

Large Chains Continue to Prosper. Trader Joe’s. October 2020 While small businesses struggle, grocery store chain, Trader Joe’s continues to succeed with a line of customers out their doors.

Floral Art by Mia. October 2020. Although business is slow, Mia tries to keep busy by tending to her shop. She has discounted a majority of her plants in hopes to attract potential customers.

Farmworkers in the Pandemic. Delano Farm, CA. November 2020 Despite the conditions and the pandemic, farmworkers continue to feed us.

Raffalo’s Pizza. October 2020. Before the pandemic, Raffalo’s used to be located at Fountain but unfortunately their building burnt down so they moved to Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles. Now with the pandemic, they are struggling even more to get back on their feet. Here, we see two customers dining outdoors abiding to the COVID dining restrictions.

1739 Public House Restaurant. November 2020. The restaurant employee is setting up the outdoor dining tables as part of the COVID dining restrictions which don’t allow indoor dining.

Coming Home to Leimert. Nestled at the foot of Baldwin Hills, Leimert Park remains one of the few areas in Los Angeles where African Americans make up a significant majority of the population. The mainly residential community was developed in the 1920s and, as of 2008, was home to more than 12,000 residents, according to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. The community’s population, outside of being nearly 80% African American, also tends to be older and less wealthy than the rest of Los Angeles County.

Batson’s Fine Laundering & Dry Cleaning. Operated in the area for more than a century before closing last year. Former owner Sammy Spera said in an interview with Cleaner & Launderer that he decided to retire due to rising costs of running the business and declining revenues. His is just one of many independent businesses that have closed in recent years.

The House on Long Street. This single-family home was built in 1946, according to property records, and is similar to others in the South Los Angeles area. But, with property values skyrocketing as new stadiums and businesses come into the area, several residents are struggling to stay in their homes. According to a 2018 UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Study, the average home price in the South L.A. area is triple what it was in 1960 when adjusted for inflation.

The Community’s Super Hero Street Vendor. And it’s not just businesses with storefronts that have been impacted in recent years. Street vendors, who are members of the community in their own right, have also seen declining sales and rising expenses — driving many to find other locations to sell their wares or stopping their business altogether.

Carniceria La Chiquita. For more than two decades, a husband and wife team has been running this taqueria. Despite rising property and business taxes, and the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple says they will continue feeding locals from their shop.

Woman of the Community. Janet, my mother, bought a home in the area in 2009. Throughout the past 11 years, she has seen firsthand how our neighborhood has changed. My mother said, while she’s happy money is being invested into the community, she’s upset about the lack of thought that has gone into the renovation projects, such as the new Metro Los Angeles stop, which is being built above ground. She believes that those living in the community should have more of a say in changes before they are made.

Maribélla Muñoz-Jimenez, 1. Victory Park, October, 2020. “I love my cultures’ music and food as well as the sense of community it offers.”

Kaylee Young, 1. Memorial Park, November, 2020. “One thing I absolutely admire about my culture is the sense of community. Even though I don’t get to see my family very often, I always feel connected to them through our culture.”

Maribélla Muñoz-Jimenez, 2. Victory Park, October, 2020. Maribélla is Latina-American with family from Nicaragua, Colombia, and Mexico. When asked what she felt physically represented her culture, she explained the color red and hoop-earrings seemed to be the perfect testament to her heritage.

Kaylee Young, 2. Memorial Park, November, 2020. “I believe diverse representation is so so important because intersectionality is everywhere and we need to understand that people have a lot of overlapping similarities.”

Maribélla Muñoz-Jimenez, 3. Victory Park, October, 2020. “There can’t be a “cookie-cutter” representation of any single culture — a culture is a group of different people, not just one individual.”

Kaylee Young, 3. Memorial Park, November, 2020. Women of Color are often made to feel as though we cannot express our emotions without judgment. Furthermore, in many of our cultures, we are taught women must be submissive and neutral. With Kaylee, I hoped to capture an honest variety of emotions in response to such a notion.

Decisions, Decisions. For teens like Aroche, staying on top of the latest trends is more than a desire — it’s a crucial part of feeling accepted. The options for women’s clothing are limitless and always changing, making choosing the perfect outfit an often time-consuming process.

Halfway Ready. Aroche stares at her complexion after finishing her skincare routine. And while her face is cleaned, moisturized, and protected from the sun, she is still not quite ready to go out in public.

Pink Tax. Studies show that products, even those used by all genders, cost more if they are the color pink — a color traditionally meant for girls and women. And while women might prefer certain skincare brands, those that have male equivalents still tend to charge women more.

What to choose? She now has to choose an outfit from her closet. But even this is a task. She not only has to make sure that the outfit she chooses is comfortable but also makes her feel good about herself.

I’m Running Out. Valeria Aroche, 14, faces the same struggles of most other teen girls — periods, acne, and finding the perfect outfit. For her, skincare products are a necessity to feel like she is putting her best face forward.

Almost Ready. But it’s not just the purchasing of these products themselves. It’s the items you need to use those products. From cotton swabs and pads to makeup applicators, tweezers, and eyelash curlers, the cost of application is almost as much as the products themselves.

I’m Fine. What is depression? Depression is a disorder that causes one to feel sad and feel like losing interest in the world. This disorder usually requires long term treatment. Most people with this disorder might seek therapy/psychotherapy to learn how to deal with depression and feel better.

PTSD. What is post-traumatic stress disorder? This is a disorder caused by a traumatizing experience. Its acronym is PTSD— PTSD can last months or years. The symptoms of PTSD is a nightmare or flashbacks of the experience. The disorder includes anxiety and depression and heightened reactions.

The Fear of Food.  What is Anorexia Nervosa? Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where someone fears gaining weight. This photo shows what someone diagnosed with this Anorexia Nervosa might face when planning to eat – reading calories and nutrition information.

Nothing is There. Depression symptoms are very different for everyone. Depression can be scary and overwhelming. Some people self-medicate, or as shown in the photo, people with this disorder might self-harm themself. If feeling down and might risk of self-harm, please call the suicide hotline (800)273-8255

I want to be skinny I want to be PERFECT.  Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder of people who are in fear of gaining weight. People with this specific illness are below healthy weight. People with this illness usually check all food calories to make sure it’s not a lot of calories. Another related disorder is Bulimia Nervosa. This disorder can be dangerous(life-threatening). Bulimia nervosa is a mental illness unwarranted fear of gain weight.

I Think I’m Lost. Most of the time, some disorders like depression and bipolar make you feel lost in the world. Feel so far from reality. It’s like being in a dark corner.

Something Religious. While one advertises their store day-by-day, the other relaxes, hidden away in the shade.

A Celebration. With the end of Trump came joy and relief for many people.

Behind the Gate. Two different worlds stuck behind the same thing. Even when something is odd or out of place, it still connects.

Win! Even during the black of night, the street points for people to celebrate together.

SHOOZ. The same setting, the same item, but infinitely different uses. To some, the shoes may be their rent, but to someone else, it’s just another donation.

DODGERSS. The street can bring all kinds of things together. When the Dodgers won the World Series, fans flooded Sunset Boulevard with smoke and music, and even through the chaos, the roads became a place to celebrate as a collective.