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Clinica Verde breaks ground! Congratulations to all of you who have donated time & money to this amazing cause. What a journey…what a story! Meanwhile, last week I turned in my final application for the Getty’s Grants for Good to continue my photojounalism work in Nicaragua . Send me some positive thoughts, prayers, keep your fingers crossed, get out that rabbit foot…whatever works for you; I’ll appreciate your thougths.
Isn’t that a tough question? Some of my work was recently accepted into a publication and the editor wanted to know a bit more about me. (I’ll give more details about the publication once it goes to print.”) They gave me a variety of questions…thought I’d share my response:
I am a photographer and I am a mother…the two seem inseparable at times. Both challenging my inner drive, inner child & the ability to balance it all.. I think that deep down I always knew that I would be a photographer, but becoming a mother gave me an excuse to look at life with the freshness and wonder of a young spirit and find joy in the details…looking past the obvious, to know someone deeper, to trust my instincts, and to push the boundaries of what I am able to do with my life.
I have never been published and I suppose it’s one of my guilty secrets that I have always hoped I could some day. Maybe it’s vanity…maybe it’s the possibility that if someone else puts my work in print, then just maybe, it will make me real.
My hobbies are anything that brings me outside…kayaking, yoga, biking, backpacking & travel. I find that as I get older, my desire to travel has become more intense; a profound longing to feel connected to others in this world. Lately a list-topper has been just going exploring with my boys in the forest. I think all therapy should begin with a hike in the woods with small children…puts life in perspective. Oh, I have many bad habits…though most pretty tame in the grand scheme….I love staying up late,potato chips, bad dance music & a great margarita. Add good friends to the occasion and I set!
I am most proud of the fact that while I juggle many things as a business owner & a parent…my boys still have contests of who loves me more. Once they are tucked in tightly for bed, I look forward to my work. I can’t imagine a life of feeling the drudgery of work each & every day. I am so proud that I have created a life that I can enjoy living.
I shoot many things and sometimes it is for joy, sometimes for money and on a good day it is both.
What a day! You gotta love days like this when a bunch of awesome people come together to show the power of the positive. OK…here’s the background.
1. Girls on the Run -”GOTR” © is a non-profit prevention program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. The final step in their program is for all girls to run a 5K.
2. Emily Miner – a local friend & mom who is working hard to kick some serious cancer booty. Read her story here. 
3. Clif Bar Family - Gary & Kit have donated an amazing track to the St. Helena community & high school
And 1+2+3 + a dynamic community and what do you get? An awesome event celebrating the successes of the local girls & huge outpouring of support for Mrs. Emily Miner and her army of love. Here’s some pics…thanks to Brian for grabbing a few of these.
Emily’s Army…cancer doesn’t stand a chance!
Calla finishes strong and runs to her big sister Sophie!
Thanks to everyone for making this day possible. The remainder of the photos will be posted on my site under “editorial” soon!
The strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke a sense of humanity. If it is used well, it is a powerful ancedote in the war aganist all injustices.
Well, we have returned from an amazing trip. Their lives are difficult, the people were wonderful. I’ll let the images tell the story.View my site / ediorial to see more images.
Raquelito age 8. Grandmother cares for after Mother passed away & Father left. Lives is a shack outside of Boaco in the country. Can’t attend school because she can’t afford the price of a uniform.
Boys in Empalme de Boaco. Cutting down branches to sell for firewood. (A common way to help support the family.)
Life on her knees. Empalpe de Boaco
“I dream for my family to have a house…for an easier life.”
Pechu, age 8 & Sister Airiana, age 3 – Mother cleans homes during the day and they look after each other with the help of a neighbor. Pechu hopes to go to school someday. Boaco
To find out more about how to help. Read the full post or check out www.clinicaverde.org
Check out the Napa Register Article about the upcoming event to support Nicaraguan clinic – Clinica Verde.
wow…I love learning about programs such as these. Talk about keeping hope alive….
I want to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things called Kiva. Kiva allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.
It’s a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays.
They also have gift certicates…which would make an amazing, impactful wedding favor.
Please check out the site: http://kiva.org. If you need more “reputable” validation than my recommendation 
, know that they have received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek. “The Only Non-Profit that Matters”-Fortune Magazine
The strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke a sense of humanity. If it is used well, it is a powerful ancedote in the war aganist all injustices.
Well the countdown has begun before our Nicaragua trip. I have mentioned the trip to many of you and thought I’d explain more here.
I recently saw a movie called ‘War Photographer’; a documentary about a photographer who has made it his life’s work to expose global injustices of war and poverty. His words resonated with my long-range aspirations in photography. “My goal is to create images that are powerful enough to overcome the deluding effects of mass media and shake people up from their indifference.” – James Nachtwey In the words of my husband, “Once people know, how can they look the other way?”
In two weeks, we will be traveling to a small village in the center of Nicaragua. During this trip, I will be visiting and photographing the people that live in these smaller surrounding villages. I am humbeled to be taking my camera into such conditions and hope that I can use my images to increase awareness and hope. It is times like these when I am reminded how small our world is and it is far too easy to close the door; close our minds off to the world that we do not see everyday.
Some of my images will be aiding Clínica Verde , a non-profit creating an environmentally sustainable prototype for a health clinic in Nicaragua that can be replicated throughout the world. Find out more here: www.clinicaverde.com
Upon our return we will be hosting some fundraising events at Clark-Claudon this summer. The first event is a cycling event:Wildflowers & Wine Ride, leaving from the Clark-Claudon ranch and ending in an awesome Napa Valley picnic. Please join us.
For about ten years my family has been involved with this small village in Nicaragua. They have helped to build homes, a park & baseball feild as well as help in the local schools and the clinic. They have funded multiple children to go to school including many girls into university. ( A goal far too often un-attainable in a poverty-striken area.) One particular girl has gone from a shack with black plastic for walls, all the way to university. This spring we will visit her in a ‘real’ home with her husband and new baby. All proceeds from this event will go to students in such dire situations. It is so easy to make a life-changing impact; I give kudos to all who are choosing to do so.
I look forward to sharing the images with you and thank you in advance for any involvement you care to have.
If you would like to help by sponsoring a child or donating to ClinicaVerde, please contact me. briana@brianamariephotography.com, or go to http://www.change.org/nonprofits/view/96728
Here’s a sneak peak… It’s that time of year again…the parents have come out to play. The date is Feb. 23, 2008 and the schoolyard this year is Rubicon Estate hosting the 21st annual St. Helena Cooperative Auction “A good thing growing…green.” and it’s going to be a fabulous night! I am pleased to be sharing prints of each child throughout Rubicon estate as well as a DVD slideshow of the children of the school “allowing wonder to happen”. The food & wine will be amazing, the live lots this year are really special…and I do hope everyone enjoys the photos. In addition, a portion of the proceeds goes towards “greening” the school to solar power. Care to play? www.sthelenacoop.org You can purchase tickets online or call 707.965-3706 to request tickets or a catalog.
