It's quite difficult to put in words the amount I feel I grew over the course of the annual Newhouse Fall Workshop alone. The theme of the 2014 workshop was family and low income living wage. I connected with the Rescue Mission, a Central New York social services organization in downtown Syracuse, and they helped connect me with a family to spend time with during the workshop.
Working with Syracuse resident and recovering addict Jose Morales, 47, who sells cigarettes on the streets to support his current wife and infant son. Jose, his wife Frances, and their entire family were incredible open and kind, and spending time with them was truly an enlightening experience. The workshop was one of the most amazing and yet challenging events I have ever taken part in, and working under wise and talented coaches Stacy Pearsall and Peter Caty, I learned more about making picture stories, personal editing style, and who I am as a photographer than I had ever imagined.
Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales holds up his four-month-old son Jose Jr. so he can look at the new Red-tailed black shark that was recently added to their fish tank. The Morales family has a number of pets, including two dogs, one cat, a turtle, and a variety of different fish.
Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, leans in to kiss his wife Frances before heading out to the area around the Rescue Mission to sell cigarettes. In addition to the family receiving food stamps, Jose sells both single and packs of Lucy's cigarettes on the streets of Syracuse to support his wife, and his four-month-old son Jose Jr.
Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, waits in line to receive a free blanket for his four-month-old son Jose Jr. at the Rescue Mission's thrift store in downtown Syracuse. The Rescue Mission provides assistance to Jose, and many others who require basic necessities such as blankets, toiletries and even food.
In order to make money to support his family, Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, sells packs of Lucy's cigarettes for cash directly outside of the Rescue Mission. Morales is not allowed to sell cigarettes inside of the mission, and has been kicked out for doing so in the past.
Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, makes an exchange of a pack of Lucy's cigarettes for cash on a street that runs parallel to the Rescue Mission. Morales sells packs of Lucy's for five dollars each, and single cigarettes for 25 cents a piece.
Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, sells cigarettes outside of the Rescue Mission's thrift store to support his second wife Frances, and his four-month-old son, Jose Jr. Morales stays in the area around the Rescue Mission in order to cater to the nicotine addiction of the many individuals that receive assistance from the Mission.
Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, shakes a bottle full of change to amuse his four-month-old son, Jose Jr. Morales has been saving change in the bottle his son, but occasionally dips into his funds to purchase alcohol for himself.
After putting his four-month-old son to sleep, Syracuse resident and former addict Jose Morales, 47, smokes a cigarette outside of his room. Morales makes sure to never smoke in the same room as his son because he understands the physical effects second-hand smoking can have on an infant.