Pure joy is all I have to describe this gift that I was able to give to my neighbors.
The Front Steps Project was founded by Cara Soulia in Needham, Massachusetts. She had the idea to take five-minute portraits of residents in her community on their front steps with the simple intention to bring people together during a time of isolation.
“I am to highlight the faces of our community during a time when we might not see them passing at the grocery store, coffee shop, on the train or at the gym,” Cara wrote in an Instagram post.
Inspired by her vision, I became excited about doing the same thing right here in the Johnstown/Milliken community. I felt the overwhelming desire to speak life into families during this quarantine- from six to ten feet away, of course. (I find comfort in following the rules- it’s part of my Type A personality!) I did research about how to honor CDC guidelines for social distancing and complied to all of their suggestions.
I believe now, more than ever, is a crucial time to be a light. I reached out to my neighbors, encouraged them to invite their neighbors, and sought out families who would’ve possibly wanted to join in on the fun. Originally, I thought I would photograph families late on weekday afternoons. As possible news of tighter social distancing restrictions trickled in, I felt an urgency to start immediately. I started preparing one Sunday after lunch and hit the ground at 3:30 p.m. The afternoon was beautiful and several families were outside crafting beautiful displays of sidewalk chalk art.
What started as an experiment absolutely exploded. I had 15 families scheduled every 15 minutes! Some neighbors had very little notice to prepare, but their willing spirits proved anything can be done when a community comes together. I tried to organize my route by neighborhood and the direction the home was facing in order to best plan for lighting. I had to advise a couple of families to wear sunglasses because there wasno way to avoid full sunshine!
I stood on the sidewalk, waved, introduced myself, and gave them a quick rundown of what to expect. I snapped three images- standing, sitting, and a family hug. Each family got creative with the project. I asked some of the families to make signs for the session. It could say anything they wanted, as long as it included “#thefrontstepsproject.” From photos with bare feet, beer, and babies to families decked out in pajamas, everyone’s interpretation was unique. On one block, the neighbors continuously cheered and bantered across the street.
I drove from address to address singing with delight to my loud music. What an opportunity to pray over our town and bless families from the sidewalk! As a culture we want to be heard. We want to be seen. I hope that the families I photographed felt seen. I am so grateful to have a camera that allows me to provide a memory. In the future, those memories will spark stories and bring emotions to life from this crazy time in history.
This project represents generosity. I want you to see the smiling faces of this community and know that God is good. These family pictures document an unprecedented time in history. They represent a resilient nation that chose compassion in the midst of chaos. Truthfully, I wanted this project to become a part of my testimony. I wanted to show that God is in control through images of my own family.
Testimonies are often formed during challenging times. I often challenge myself with the question, “What can I do?” Now, I will ask you the same question- “What can you do?”