Filed under: why?, writing | Tags: city, documentary, ethnography, homeless, New York City, public spaces, social issues, sociology, urban, urban policy, video
Before I even begin to post on this blog I should first discuss why I am doing this. I am constantly finding that wherever or whatever my daily tasks may be in New York City, there is a group of people that I cannot overlook. The homeless can be seen all over the streets and subways, each with a different story. Most have experienced several life crises such as deaths in the family, prison, or unemployment and are also in the midst of facing severe psychological disorders and/or mental illnesses such as depression. These illnesses along with other factors including appearance and neediness comes a common fear that exists among people towards the homeless. That the act of avoiding them is the most appropriate action to take in their presence. I know for a fact that my parents are extremely worried about my choice to pursue this project. What I want to do is to provide an understanding to their situations and to relieve some of the misconceptions about them. I want to show that many of the experiences they have gone through and are currently going through are not so far away from events that could transform our lives traumatically. The act of helping others first involves listening and comprehension of the problems as these are the two elements I am primarily looking to address. The bottom line is, they are human therefore, they are you, and they are me. Please listen, watch and comment with any thoughts you have on what I am posting. Thanks for viewing!
sincerely,
Pasquale
